Head of Product Engineering – China

Location: Shenzhen, China
Reporting to: General Manager, China
Functional Reporting: Head of Engineering, US

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Head of Product Engineering to build and lead the Product Engineering function in Shenzhen for a fast-growing global toy company.

The role will own the engineering side of product development, ensuring creative concepts can be successfully transformed into robust, safe, manufacturable and cost-effective products at scale.

The successful candidate should have deep experience in toy or consumer product engineering, particularly in mechanisms, structures, tooling, plastics and manufacturing, combined with strong leadership and cross-cultural communication capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Build, lead and develop the Product Engineering team in Shenzhen.
• Lead engineering activities throughout the full product development lifecycle, from concept feasibility and prototype development through tooling, validation and mass production.
• Translate creative and product concepts into technically feasible engineering solutions.
• Own and drive DFM/DFA, product architecture, mechanical design, materials selection, tooling and engineering validation.
• Provide technical leadership on products involving mechanical structures, mechanisms, hard plastics and, where relevant, electromechanical features.
• Work closely with Product Design, Product Development, Quality and Sourcing teams to optimize product performance, safety, quality, cost and manufacturability.
• Partner with OEM/ODM factories, tooling suppliers and component vendors to resolve technical challenges during development and production.
• Lead engineering reviews, risk assessments, root-cause analysis and technical problem solving.
• Ensure engineering solutions meet applicable global toy safety and quality requirements.
• Improve engineering standards, development processes and technical documentation across the China organization.
• Collaborate closely with the US Engineering team and other global stakeholders to ensure alignment on technical standards and development priorities.
• Recruit, coach and develop a high-performing engineering team.

Candidate Profile

• Extensive experience in product engineering, mechanical engineering or toy engineering, ideally within the global toy industry.
• Strong hands-on knowledge of mechanisms, mechanical structures, plastics, injection molding, tooling and DFM.
• Experience with electronic/electromechanical or interactive toy products would be a strong advantage.
• Proven track record taking complex physical products from prototype and engineering development through tooling and mass production.
• Deep understanding of China manufacturing, OEM/ODM development and supplier management.
• Strong knowledge of product quality, reliability, safety and cost optimization.
• Proven experience leading and developing engineering teams.
• Strong problem-solving ability and the ability to make sound technical decisions in a fast-moving product development environment.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across technical, creative and commercial functions.
• High EQ and the ability to operate effectively across China and global teams.
• Fluent English is essential; Mandarin is highly preferred.
• Bachelor's degree or above in Mechanical Engineering, Product Engineering or a related technical discipline.