Product Development Manager

Location: Los Angeles, CA or Seattle, WA (In-office, not remote)
About FUNBOY
Founded in 2015, FUNBOY is a family-owned brand known for creating original, design-led inflatables that bring joy to every season. Best recognized for its award-winning pool floats, air beds, holiday décor, and outdoor play products, FUNBOY combines playful design with premium materials and thoughtful construction. The brand has collaborated with leading global names including Barbie, Missoni, the artist Drake, and is carried by major retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Amazon. FUNBOY is one of the world's most recognizable inflatable brands on social media, celebrated for products that turn everyday moments into lasting memories. We're growing fast and have big, fun things ahead - and we're looking for an exceptional Marketing Director to jump in, make an impact, and help take FUNBOY to the next level..
Our products must perform beautifully across all channels—standing out visually online, meeting retailer-specific requirements, and scaling seamlessly for mass distribution—while maintaining FUNBOY's signature quality and brand voice.
Role Overview
The Product Development Manager is responsible for managing the product development lifecycle from initial concept through manufacturing handoff. This role ensures products are designed, engineered, tested, and documented to meet the requirements of each sales channel and/or partner while remaining operationally efficient and aligned with brand standards.
The role partners closely with the Production team, who manage mass manufacturing and are actively involved throughout sampling, validation, and factory ramp-up.
This is a hands-on, cross-functional role suited for someone who enjoys working at the intersection of design, engineering, manufacturing, compliance, and omni-channel commerce.
Key ResponsibilitiesProduct Lifecycle
Manage product development from concept ideation → design → engineering → sampling → testing protocol → manufacturing handoff
Guide product development with an omni-channel mindset, accounting for the differing needs of DTC, marketplace, and big-box retail
Work closely with the production team to manage development timelines aligned with retail line reviews, marketplace launch windows, and DTC drops
Balance innovation, speed-to-market, cost, margin, and scalability
Concept & Design Development
Partner with founders, design, production and marketing to develop new product concepts, categories, and line extensions
Evaluate product ideas for brand alignment, channel fit, manufacturability, and commercial viability
Work closely with the production team to guide materials, construction methods, and features that perform well across online merchandising, retail shelves, and high-volume fulfillment
Engineering & Technical Execution
Oversee technical specifications, CADs, tech packs, BOMs, packaging structures, and master cartons
Ensure products meet performance, durability, and safety standards appropriate for both DTC and mass retail environments
Drive resolution of technical challenges uncovered during development and sampling
Sampling & Factory Collaboration
Oversee the sampling process in close collaboration with the Production team and overseas factories
Review and approve samples across function, materials, color, print, construction, and packaging
Ensure samples reflect final retail-ready and DTC-ready specifications, minimizing late-stage changes
Manufacturing Handoff
Own the final handoff to Production once a product is development-complete
Ensure all documentation is finalized, including specs, testing protocol, packaging requirements, and channel-specific variations
Support Production during early manufacturing runs to ensure design intent, quality, and channel requirements are maintained
Compliance, Testing & Retail Readiness
Ensure products comply with all relevant U.S. and international safety standards (e.g., ASTM, CPSIA, Prop 65)
Work with production team to account for retailer-specific compliance, packaging, labeling, and testing requirements
Partner with testing labs and internal teams to manage certifications, warnings, and documentation for all sales channels
Cross-Functional & Omni-Channel Management
Serve as the central hub between Design, Production, Sourcing, Marketing, E-commerce, and Retail partners
Communicate channel-specific tradeoffs, timelines, and risks clearly to leadership
Help build scalable product development systems that support rapid DTC launches and large retail programs simultaneously
Qualifications
5-10+ years of experience in product development, ideally within consumer products, outdoor goods, inflatables, or adjacent categories
Proven experience guiding products from concept through manufacturing handoff
Experience developing products for multiple sales channels, including DTC, Amazon, and/or big-box retail
Strong understanding of overseas manufacturing, materials, tooling, and production processes
Familiarity with retail compliance, packaging standards, and testing requirements
Exceptional project management, communication, and decision-making skills
Ability to balance creative vision with operational and commercial constraints
Passion for design-led, brand-forward consumer products
What Success Looks Like
FUNBOY consistently launches high-quality products on time across all channels
Products are engineered to scale smoothly from DTC drops to major retail programs
Sampling cycles are efficient with fewer late-stage surprises
Clear, repeatable product development processes are in place
Strong collaboration between Product Development, Production, and channel stakeholders
Products hit target margins while maintaining FUNBOY's premium look and feel
Why FUNBOY
High-impact leadership role at a growing, design-obsessed omni-channel brand
Opportunity to shape product strategy across DTC, Amazon, and national retail
Creative freedom paired with real ownership and accountability
Fast-moving, collaborative environment where great ideas ship
To apply please email jobs@funboy.com with your resume and subject line: "Production Manager Role"