Junior Product Designer

The Junior Product Designer role at SBT Global, Inc. supports the design of plush toys and character-based consumer products from early concept through production. The position is based onsite in Pico Rivera, CA and involves close collaboration with brand, product development, and design teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop creative concepts for new plush toys and character-based products.
• Collaborate with product development and design teams to brainstorm new product ideas.
• Create concept sketches, rough designs, color variations, 2D artwork, and product mockups.
• Translate brand direction and creative concepts into product designs.
• Revise designs based on team feedback, sample reviews, and production needs.
• Produce professional-quality vectorized product artwork and production files for factory use.
• Prepare production-ready artwork, design specifications, and visual references.
• Support the product development team in confirming designs are practical for production.
• Assist with material, fabric, color, and finish selection.
• Participate in prototype and sample reviews and update designs as needed.
• Review samples for consistency with approved designs, including color, materials, artwork, and overall appearance.
• Research current trends in toys, plush, character merchandise, collectibles, and consumer products.
• Monitor competitor products and emerging market trends.
• Research new materials, design ideas, and product opportunities, applying relevant trends while maintaining brand identity.
• Manage assigned design tasks and meet project deadlines.
• Maintain organized project files, artwork, specifications, and design documentation.
• Collaborate with product development, marketing, production, and quality assurance teams.
• Communicate design changes, project updates, and potential issues clearly.
• Support product development and QA teams throughout the sample and production process.
• Develop an understanding of U.S. toy and consumer product safety requirements.
• Learn and consider basic manufacturing requirements when creating product designs.
• Help identify and resolve design-related production issues.

Requirements

• 2 to 3 years of professional experience in Graphic Design, Product Design, Product Development, Toy Production, or a related field.
• Portfolio demonstrating strong design skills and process, such as concept sketches, product designs, mockups, final artwork, or production files.
• Bachelor's degree or BFA in Graphic Design, Product Design, Toy Design, Digital Media, or a related field (preferred).
• Experience with product design or pre-production processes including concept development, artwork preparation, prototyping, or sample revisions.
• Experience with plush toys, soft goods, character merchandise, or consumer products (preferred but not required).
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Working knowledge of Google Workspace.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and time management skills.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to accept feedback, make revisions, and work collaboratively with a team.
• Ability to manage assigned tasks and meet deadlines with guidance from senior team members.
• Interest in character brands, toys, plush, collectibles, and consumer product trends.

Preferred Skills

• Drawing and concept development skills.
• Familiarity with plush toys or soft-goods construction.
• Experience communicating design details with factories or product development teams.
• Familiarity with print-ready or production-ready artwork.
• Experience with ClickUp or similar project management tools.
• Basic knowledge of U.S. toy or consumer product safety requirements.
• Passion for character design, toys, and collectibles.

Technologies

• Adobe Illustrator
• Photoshop
• Google Workspace

Role Details

• Location: Pico Rivera, CA (onsite)
• Employment: Full-time, On-Site
• Working hours: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
• Compensation: USD 60,000 to 65,000 per year (DOE)

Confidentiality

All information provided will be kept confidential in accordance with EEO guidelines.