Product Developer - Tabletop & Trading Card Games

Product Developer — Tabletop & Trading Card Games Location: Remote (US-based) Reports to: Chief Operating Officer Employment Status: Contract (Independent Contractor) About Warren James Warren James is the leading creator commerce partner for top digital talent. We build premium consumer products and brands at the intersection of content, fandom, and commerce, spanning DTC, retail, licensing, and new category expansion. Our work blends creative instinct, operator discipline, and speed. We are 80+ people worldwide across the US, Guangzhou, and Manila. Following the success of our Game Changer Kickstarter board game campaign, we are expanding meaningfully into the Tabletop and Board Game category—and this contract role is at the heart of that growth. We are looking for a Product Developer specializing in Tabletop & Trading Card Games to lead development from concept through launch across board games, card games, dice games, miniature sets, and related accessories. This person will also bring valuable expertise to future Trading Card Game (TCG) product lines as we look to expand into that category. The Role The Product Developer — Tabletop & TCG will own end-to-end development for assigned tabletop titles and card game products. This is not a passive coordination role. It is hands-on and cross-functional: you’ll collaborate with our U.S. team, our Guangzhou office, and a diverse network of domestic and overseas vendors. The right candidate understands how tabletop products are made—from card printing specs to injection-molded components—and can manage the full development cycle with the rigor, communication, and creative instinct required to bring great games to fans at scale. What You’ll Own Product Development Leadership

• Lead end-to-end tabletop game product development—from line planning and concepting through prototyping, playtesting coordination, sampling, production, and launch.
• Develop and maintain detailed product specs including rule books, component lists, card layouts, box inserts, and packaging requirements.
• Ensure products meet aesthetic specifications, functional and gameplay requirements, licensor standards, and safety/compliance needs.
• Track and document sample costs, unit costs, tooling costs, and component costs, escalating concerns to leadership when necessary.

Cross-Functional Execution

• Partner with brand, design, and overseas teams to build tabletop and card game assortments that achieve revenue and creative goals.
• Communicate daily with overseas project managers, compliance teams, vendors, and suppliers to manage timelines and resolve issues.
• Maintain and update project management trackers (Asana) and ensure accurate, up-to-date documentation across all development stages.
• Identify communication gaps and proactively schedule calls to keep all stakeholders aligned across time zones.
• Send and track reference samples and development samples for licensors, freelance game designers, and illustrators.

Prototyping & Quality

• Coordinate prototype and playtest sample production with overseas manufacturers; collect and document feedback to iterate on game design and component quality.
• Ensure all products meet applicable safety and compliance standards, including toy safety and ASTM standards where applicable.

TCG Category Support

• Support the evaluation and development of Trading Card Game (TCG) products—including card specifications, foiling and printing techniques, rarity structures, booster pack configurations, and collectibility features—in preparation for potential category expansion.

Process & Innovation

• Contribute to category innovation and process improvements to strengthen the efficiency and scalability of tabletop product development.
• Support cross-team collaboration to explore new game formats, materials, and product extensions.
• Collaborate with the brand and design teams to spec new tabletop products, create comprehensive tech packs, and expand category offerings.

What Success Looks Like In this role, success would likely look like:

• Products are launched on time, on spec, and within budget across assigned tabletop titles.
• Prototype and sample cycles are well-documented, iterated efficiently, and resolved without escalation.
• Cross-functional partners in brand, design, and overseas operations describe you as proactive, organized, and easy to work with.
• Component and manufacturing specs are accurate and clearly communicated, reducing errors and revision cycles.
• TCG category groundwork is laid