Life on the Job

Getting paid to play may sound too good to be true, but that's an integral part of Bruzelius' job description. Like other engineers who test new product designs, Bruzelius has to make sure that the toys do what they are designed to do, which just happens to require that he play with them. "I keep a pair of swim trunks in my desk, because you never know when you have to go test a water toy," he says.

In addition to a full line of pool toys, such as underwater radios, Wild Planet produces an array of spy gear, including sunglasses with hidden cameras and secret messengers. "There are days when we go wandering the streets of San Francisco testing walkie-talkies," Bruzelius says.

Much of the engineering work, such as the toy's electronics, is done at the company's operational sites in Southeast Asia. So much of his time is devoted to project management, rather than design work. "Still it's important to have the [technical] background because you make your decisions based on engineering knowledge."

That background should include a knowledge of materials, particularly plastics. "When it comes to plastics, you have to know about the thickness, material characteristics and failure analysis. You also have to know about molding and the processes involved in making the parts," Bruzelius explains.

And like other industries in the business of manufacturing products for the public, production costs and safety are always concerns. "You may be able to make a toy cheaply, but how safe is it? Sometimes we just can't do a design because of the cost or a safety issue."

Industry Outlook
A few years ago, the toy market experienced a significant downturn. While the industry has since rebounded, it's still susceptible to market swings, especially when retail is hit hard. Overall, Bruzelius says it tends to be a fairly consistent industry.

Toy companies may not hire large numbers of engineers or computer scientists each year, but there are career opportunities. If getting paid to play with toys appeals to you, Bruzelius recommends you get to know as much about the toy-making world as possible by joining industry groups or subscribing to trade journals. These will keep you informed of industry happenings, as well as introduce you to names of people who are making significant moves. A well-developed network is key both in the job search and on the job.

"As an engineer you don't have to know everything, but you do have to know where to find it. If you're trying to find glow-in-the-dark ink, then you have to be able to know where to get the information."

Although he loves every step along the toy-making process, the best part of Bruzelius' job is seeing the product on the shelves. "There's nothing cooler than hearing a kid or mom say, 'I love that. It's so cool.' That's my toy and I know the magic behind it."

Part From Article by Anne Baye Ericksen