Product Developer Assistant (On-site)

Company Description

At Lakeshore, we create innovative learning materials and world-class guest experiences for teachers, parents and children. Since 1954, we’ve grown into a global community—with a thriving e-commerce business, multiple catalogs, over 50 stores, a peerless national sales force, plus international offices that support our preeminent supply chain division. But today we’re working better, smarter and faster than ever—and setting our sights even higher. We’re building an infrastructure designed for scalability, embracing data-driven decision-making and using technology to improve efficiency and ensure the best tools for the best work. Most importantly, we continue to invest in a diverse team of inquisitive top talent who fuel each other’s passions and curiosity, take risks, try new things and believe that every new day brings opportunities for growth.

Job Description

As a Product Developer Assistant at Lakeshore, you'll be part of the team that brings learning products to life — from the first brainstorm to the sample on a classroom shelf. You'll dig into education research, observe children interacting with our products in our on-site preschool, and help developers turn insights into better, more engaging learning tools. It's hands-on, detail-driven work that directly shapes what educators and children experience every day. 

This is a full-time, onsite role based at our Carson, California headquarters

A day on the job looks like this: 

• Researching education standards, developmental milestones and market trends to give product developers the context they need to make informed design decisions
• Observing and documenting real-world product testing with children in our on-site preschool, capturing insights that improve usability and age-appropriateness
• Evaluating incoming product samples and develop inspection documentation that keeps quality standards clear and consistent
• Supporting cleanability and safety testing activities, helping the team gather and organize results accurately and on schedule
• Creating product mock-ups and polished presentations that bring early stage concepts to life for internal reviews
• Partnering with Art and Editorial teams to develop content for product guides, packaging and related materials
• Keeping cross-functional teams informed by communicating timely product updates — like final product names — to the right people at the right time

Qualifications

Got the skills and experience? Here’s what we’re looking for:

Required 

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Child Development, Early Childhood Studies, or a closely related field — or an equivalent combination of education and hands-on experience working with children or in an educational setting. 
• Familiarity with child developmental milestones, education standards and current trends in early childhood or K–12 learning
• Solid working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor information clearly for different audiences
• Genuine attention to detail — you catch things others miss and take pride in accurate, well-organized work

Preferred 

• Experience observing or working directly with children in a classroom, childcare or research setting
• Exposure to product development, curriculum design or education publishing
• Experience creating consumer-facing content such as product instructions, activity guides or educational materials

What sets you apart 

• You juggle competing deadlines without dropping the details — shifting priorities don't throw you off, they sharpen your focus
• You ask good questions and stay curious, treating every research task or testing session as a chance to learn something that makes the product better
• You share what you learn. When you find a useful resource or spot a pattern in your research, you bring it back to the team rather than keeping it to yourself

Additional Information

And here’s our end of the bargain!

At Lakeshore, we pay local market wages for employees that reside within Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

For this position, new employees joining Lakeshore who live within Los Angeles and Orange Counties are typically brought into the organization at an hourly rate between $25.72-$31.73 depending on relevant experience & skillset.

This range is indicative of projected hiring range. The annual base compensation will take into account each candidate's relevant experience, location, and skillset.

• Bonus eligible
• Paid leave for new parents to support work/life balance and family bonding
• Excellent medical/dental and vision coverage—EPO, PPO and HSA
• 401(k) retirement plan with company contribution (because you will retire someday)
• Flexible benefits—choose what you like, ignore the rest
• On-site preschool for our employees’ children
• On-site employee gym for all levels/fitness needs
• Generous employee discount
• Casual dress…and we really mean it

At Lakeshore, we know our diversity makes us stronger, and when everyone feels included and valued, we all win. We strive to embrace our differences and create an intentionally diverse and inclusive community that is representative of the teachers, families and children we serve.

We know we couldn’t do the extraordinary things we’re doing without the people on our team. Thanks to the passion and enthusiasm of this spectacular group, Lakeshore is more than a great place to work—it’s a great experience to be part of. Day in and day out, we give everything we’ve got to create products that instill a sense of wonder and foster a true love of learning. To help maintain this high bar for success, we’re constantly on the lookout for people to join us. So if you’re a down-to-earth professional who shares our desire for making a difference, we’d love to hear from you. 
 
To learn more about Lakeshore, visit www.lakeshorelearning.com/careers 
 
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
People are selected to become members of the Lakeshore family based on skill, merit and mind-boggling talent—not based on race, color, creed, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, marital status, domestic partnership status, military status, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, alienage, AIDS or AIDS-related complex status, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, status as a victim of domestic violence, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If things aren’t equal, we all lose.

To learn about how we collect and use Applicant information, please visit our Employee/Applicant Privacy Policy.

Lakeshore is an E-Verify employer. We use E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.

Please see the E-Verify Participation Poster and Know Your Rights Poster in English and Spanish for more information. INDRLL1