About the job
CREATIVITY IS OUR SUPERPOWER. It’s our heritage and it’s also our future. Because we don’t just make toys. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire fans, entertain audiences and develop children through play. Mattel is at its best when every member of our team feels respected, included, and heard—when everyone can show up as themselves and do their best work every day. We value and share an infinite range of ideas and voices that evolve and broaden our perspectives with a reach that extends into all our brands, partners, and suppliers.

The Team:
The Future Lab team's mission is to pioneer the future of play by identifying, incubating, and implementing new customer-facing, tech-enabled products, experiences and services beyond Mattel's conventional offerings and categories.

The Opportunity:
We are seeking a skilled and proactive Associate Product Manager to join the Future Lab team. This role is pivotal in developing and maintaining a comprehensive database of all Hot Wheels die-cast vehicles, ensuring it remains current with new product launches. This database will be the authoritative source for all Hot Wheels collector data and imagery, forming the backbone for future digital and physical collector experiences. The database will interface with customer-facing digital services, such as collector apps, necessitating understanding of database architecture and system integration. The ideal candidate will collaborate closely with IT teams, photography units, and external Hot Wheels collectors to ensure the database's accuracy, completeness, and seamless integration.

What Your Impact Will Be

Database Development & Integration

Design, develop, and maintain a comprehensive database of all Hot Wheels die-cast vehicles.
Collaborate with IT teams to build database architecture that supports integration with customer-facing digital tools like collector apps.
Ensure the database supports seamless data exchange with internal systems and external platforms.
Work with cross-functional stakeholders to align database capabilities with broader product, marketing, and digital goals.

Data Integrity & Quality Control

Develop and implement automated processes to detect errors, flag inconsistencies, and uphold data integrity.
Establish workflows, documentation, and best practices to maintain database sustainability and reliability across teams.
Manage incoming data signals from internal teams, partners, and automated tools to ensure ongoing accuracy.

External Contributor Management

Manage a group of external Hot Wheels experts to verify and enhance database entries.
Research and retrieve data for legacy and obscure items from external sources to build a complete catalog.

What We’re Looking For

Minimum 5+ years of experience in database management, data architecture, or a related field, preferably in a consumer-facing industry.
Demonstrated experience setting up and organizing new or emerging data sets from scratch, ensuring rapid initial growth and long-term sustainability.
Experience in organizing or managing databases for collectibles, historical archives, or similar cataloging systems.
Prior experience designing and implementing large-scale databases that support product catalogs, digital integrations, or e-commerce platforms.
Strong technical expertise in SQL, NoSQL, relational databases, and database management systems such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, or Oracle.
Experience collaborating with IT teams to develop and maintain API integrations and automated data pipelines.
Proven ability to work cross-functionally with creative, marketing, and product development teams.
Experience managing external partnerships, contributors, or third-party data providers.
Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git) and data pipelines.

Personal Attributes Required

Strong attention to detail and ability to ensure accuracy in large datasets.
Ability to drive data integrity and process automation initiatives with minimal oversight.
Highly resourceful in finding and verifying missing information from external sources.
Adept at designing efficient processes for data entry, validation, and updates, optimizing workflows without compromising quality.
Proven project leadership skills—defining scope, creating roadmaps, managing milestones, and tracking success metrics.
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate across technical and non-technical teams.
Ability to spot and correct inconsistencies or errors before they become systemic.
Passion for organization, documentation, and building scalable systems.
A passion for collectibles, particularly Hot Wheels, or a deep appreciation for fan and collector culture is a strong plus.

The annual base salary range for this position is between $98,400 and $149,000

This range is indicative of projected hiring range, however annual base salary will be determined based on a candidate’s work location, skills and experience. Mattel offers competitive total pay programs, comprehensive benefits, and resources to help empower a culture where every employee can reach their full potential.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Mattel, we are dedicated to an inclusive workplace and a culture of belonging. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

How We Work

We are a purpose driven company aiming to empower generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. We live up to our purpose employing the following behaviors

We collaborate Being a part of Mattel means being part of one team with shared values and common goals. Every person counts and working closely together always brings better results. Partnership is our process and our collective capabilities is our superpower.
We innovate At Mattel we always aim to find new and better ways to create innovative products and experiences. No matter where you work in the organization, you can always make a difference and have real impact. We welcome new ideas and value new initiatives that challenge conventional thinking.
We execute We are a performance-driven company. We strive for excellence and are focused on pursuing best-in-class outcomes. We believe in accountability and ownership and know that our people are at their best when they are empowered to create and deliver results.

Who We Are

Mattel is a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We engage consumers and fans through our franchise brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Thomas & Friends, UNO, Masters of the Universe, Matchbox, Monster High, MEGA and Polly Pocket, as well as other popular properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Our products are sold in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential.

Mattel’s award-winning workplace culture has been recognized by Forbes, Fast Company, Newsweek, Great Place to Work, TIME, and more.

Visit us at https //jobs.mattel.com/ and www.instagram.com/MattelCareers .