The Walt Disney Company

Data Engineer I

The Walt Disney Company$89K — $119K *
Information Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software, Advanced Mathematics, Statistics, Data Engineering, or comparable field of study.
  • Strong proficiency in SQL, including analytical SQL, complex joins, and window functions.
  • Hands-on experience with PySpark and/or Spark SQL in a production environment.
  • Experience building pipelines in Databricks, including Delta Lake and Unity Catalog.
  • Familiarity with AWS services, such as S3, IAM, EC2, and Glue.
  • Proficiency with Airflow or comparable orchestration tools.
  • Experience in modern DevOps practices, including Git/GitHub and CI/CD.

Responsibilities

  • Assist in building and maintaining ETL/ELT pipelines for marketing data using Databricks, PySpark, and SQL.
  • Support migration of Snowflake SQL scripts into Databricks UC by validating and updating queries.
  • Contribute to processes for ingesting and validating marketing vendor data.
  • Implement foundational data quality checks and monitoring alerts using tools like Airflow and Databricks.
  • Collaborate with Data Reliability Engineering on SLA monitoring and incident troubleshooting.
  • Work with analytics and marketing partners to ensure dataset accuracy used in reporting.
  • Participate in engineering best practices, including code reviews and documentation.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Retirement plans with company matching.
  • Paid time off and holiday leave benefits.
  • Flexible work schedules available.
  • Opportunities for professional development and career growth.
Full Job Description

Job Posting Title:

Data Engineer I

Req ID:

Job Description:

Commerce, Data & Identity provides the core product management functions for areas crucial to Disney’s media businesses. These include initiatives and products that power digital commerce, identity, and growth, as well as those that reach uniquely across The Walt Disney Company enterprise, such as messaging and privacy, among others. Additionally, it is responsible for the data engineering, science, and products for Disney Entertainment & ESPN, along with their interconnection with other parts of The Walt Disney Company.  

About the Team 

The Acquisition Marketing Engineering team owns the ingestion, modeling, and activation of acquisition and lifecycle marketing data across multiple platforms. We build and maintain large scale data pipelines that ingest vendor data (paid media, mobile attribution, search, social, display, email, and more), land it in cloud storage, and transform it into analytics-ready datasets powering acquisition reporting tools, dashboards, and executive insights. You will be a member of the engineering team driving multiple transformations from end‑to‑end. 

Job Summary: 

The Data Engineer I will support the design, development, and maintenance of data pipelines and transformation workflows that power acquisition reporting and marketing analytics. You will work across AWS, Databricks, Unity Catalog, Snowflake, and Airflow to help build reliable and scalable solutions for ingesting and preparing marketing platform data. 

You will collaborate with senior engineers, analytics partners, and marketing stakeholders to ensure data accuracy, consistency, and timely delivery for downstream dashboards and reporting. This role involves hands-on development, troubleshooting, and contributing to the ongoing modernization of our data ecosystem. 

Responsibilities and Duties of the Role: 

  • Assist in building and maintaining ETL/ELT pipelines for acquisition reporting using Databricks, PySpark, SQL, and Unity Catalog under the guidance of senior engineers. 

  • Support the migration of existing Snowflake SQL scripts and transformations into Databricks UC by updating queries, validating outputs, and helping implement governance best practices. 

  • Contribute to developing ingestion processes for marketing vendor data, including data parsing, normalization, and quality validations. 

  • Implement and maintain foundational data quality checks, monitoring alerts, and issue triage workflows using Databricks, Snowflake, Airflow, and internal tooling. 

  • Partner with the Data Reliability Engineering team to assist with SLA monitoring, simple incident troubleshooting, and logging improvements. 

  • Collaborate with analytics and marketing partners to understand data requirements and ensure accuracy of datasets used in dashboards and reporting. 

  • Support performance tuning, logging improvements, and general pipeline reliability work. 

  • Participate in engineering best practices, including code reviews, documentation, and contributing to shared frameworks and tools. 

 

Required Education, Experience/Skills/Training: 

  • Strong proficiency in SQL (analytical SQL, complex joins, window functions). 

  • Hands-on experience with PySpark and/or Spark SQL in production. 

  • Good understanding of data modeling, ETL/ELT design patterns, and distributed data processing. 

  • Experience building pipelines in Databricks, including Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, data governance, and Lakehouse patterns. 

  • Experience in AWS (S3, IAM, EC2, Glue, Lambda, or related services). 

  • Experience with Airflow or similar orchestration tools. 

  • Experience building robust ingestion pipelines and working with semi‑structured formats (JSON, Parquet, CSV). 

  • Experience with Git/GitHub, CI/CD, and modern DevOps practices. 

  • Excellent communication skills and ability to work with cross‑functional partners. 

 

Required Education   

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software, Advanced Mathematics, Statistics, Data Engineering or comparable field of study, and/or equivalent work experience 

The hiring range for this position in Santa Monica, CA is $89,000 to $119,300 per year based on a 40 hour work week. The amount of hours scheduled per week may vary based on business needs. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

Job Posting Segment:

Commerce, Data & Identity

Job Posting Primary Business:

PE - Sports, News & Entertainment, Enablement

Primary Job Posting Category:

Data Engineering

Employment Type:

Full time

Primary City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Santa Monica, CA, USA

Alternate City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Date Posted:

2026-04-23

About The Walt Disney Company

The Walt Disney Company started as a cartoon studio and evolves into sports coverage and television shows. Using the company's portfolio of brands to differentiate our content, services, and consumer products, Walt Disney seeks to develop creative, innovative, and profitable entertainment experiences and related products.

The Walt Disney Company Careers

Join the magical world of The Walt Disney Company, a place where dreams come true and imagination meets innovation. As a global leader in entertainment and media, we offer unparalleled job opportunities that invite you to be part of a beloved brand known for its influential culture, diversity, and dynamic growth. Work You’ll Do Embark on a career journey with The Walt Disney Company and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of media and entertainment. Engage in work that matters, contributes to storytelling excellence, and brings joy to millions around the globe. Transform your professional life by joining a team that values creativity, leadership, and visionary thinking. The Walt Disney Company stands at the forefront of industry innovation, constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in entertainment and beyond. Lead with us from a unique position in the marketplace, where your skills in technology, creativity, and management converge to create extraordinary experiences. Collaborate with a diverse group of talented professionals, united in their passion for delivering magical experiences. Our team at The Walt Disney Company is composed of over 200,000 dedicated individuals who thrive in an environment that fosters growth, mentorship, and innovation. Introducing The Walt Disney Company Leadership and Professional Growth Programs We are committed to developing leaders who can navigate the challenges of the digital era and drive success across our various business segments. Our leadership programs are designed to hone your skills and prepare you for executive roles within the company. Do Innovative Work Join our team and contribute to projects that redefine the entertainment landscape. From groundbreaking films and television series to pioneering technological advancements, your work at The Walt Disney Company will set new standards in the creative and business worlds. Be Part of a Great Team Experience a culture that is inclusive, collaborative, and forward-thinking. Work alongside the best in the business and see how diversity and inclusion fuel our creativity and success. The Walt Disney Company’s commitment to a diverse workforce is evident in our hiring practices, training programs, and our everyday operations. Future-Proof Your Career With a wide array of benefits, continuous learning opportunities, and a network of supportive colleagues, your career at The Walt Disney Company is equipped for longevity and success. Our benefits package includes comprehensive health care, employee discounts, and access to exclusive company events and previews. Explore Job Opportunities and Internships Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking for your next challenge or a student seeking a transformative internship, The Walt Disney Company offers positions across a spectrum of fields and disciplines. Explore our career portal to find job opportunities that match your skills and passions. Stay Connected Join Our Team Search open positions, apply through our streamlined application process, and take the first step towards a magical career. We look for individuals who are passionate, curious, and eager to contribute to our legacy of storytelling and innovation. Keep Up to Date Stay informed with the latest company news, career tips, and insider perspectives—all from the people who make The Walt Disney Company a place of inspiration and excitement. Job Alert Emails Customize your subscription to receive job alerts and updates that align with your career interests. Discover the exciting and rewarding opportunities that await at The Walt Disney Company. Join us, and be part of the magic that only happens here at The Walt Disney Company!
Learn more about The Walt Disney Company
Size
190,000 employees
Market Cap
$155.1 billion
Industry
Net Income
-$4.9 billion
Founded
1923
5 Year Trend
+3.9%
Revenue
$60.7 billion
NASDAQ

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