The Walt Disney Company

Lead Software Engineer

The Walt Disney Company$152K — $204K *
Information Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 7+ years in software engineering, excelling in production-grade applications.
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent experience.
  • Proficient in C# and .NET technologies, especially .NET Core and ASP.NET Core.
  • Strong experience in Java and Spring framework for backend service development.
  • Deep knowledge of event-driven architectures and messaging systems like Kafka.
  • Expertise in relational databases and SQL for effective data modeling and performance optimization.
  • Proficient in API design and integration practices.

Responsibilities

  • Lead architectural design and implementation of large software projects.
  • Mentor and foster collaborative efforts among senior engineers and teams.
  • Own development projects, influencing strategic direction and scalability.
  • Measure impact on product success through innovation and technical strategy.
  • Facilitate cross-functional collaboration with Product Management, QA, and Design teams.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical coverage including health, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Retirement savings plan with company match options.
  • Professional development opportunities and ongoing training.
  • Flexible work environment encouraging work-life balance.
Full Job Description
Job Posting Title:
Lead Software Engineer

Req ID:


Job Description:

Content Platforms & Operations is responsible for the development and ongoing advancement of the technical and operational functions driving the worldwide distribution and monetization of Disney's linear networks and theatrical content. This includes Disney's media supply chain and storage, network and theatrical distribution operations, media localization, network transmission and origination, and more. The global team also plays a critical role as the primary collaboration point for Product & Technology with Disney's EMEA, APAC, and LATAM regional business teams.

The Music Supply Chain Team manages products and oversees workflows that enable users to handle both publishing and recorded music business. This includes acquisition, distribution, administration, and monetization processes, leveraging analytics to drive data-informed decisions.

As a Lead Software Engineer, you will architect and deliver resilient, scalable systems across our music supply chain applications. This role blends hands-on technical leadership with strategic influence-transforming business requirements into innovative solutions that support music supply chain platform and data integrations.

This position might be right for you if:
  • You're a curious, efficient, and hands-on engineer who enjoys shaping the direction of development and collaborating with some of the brightest minds in the organization.
  • You thrive in an agile, collaborative environment where teamwork, continuous improvement, and innovation are valued.

In this role, you'll work within the Music sales, finance, accounting, and royalties' domains, focusing on data streams and integrations between our music metadata repertoire system and various upstream and downstream applications. You'll collaborate closely with multiple internal and external teams to design, implement, and maintain robust data integration capabilities that ensure accuracy, scalability, and efficiency across the music supply chain.

Responsibilities and Duties of the Role:
  • Technical Expertise: Possesses comprehensive knowledge of technologies and leads architectural design and implementation of large projects. Fixes critical bugs and drives technical excellence across teams. Creates and reviews complex solutions and ensures alignment with organizational standards.
  • Influence and Leadership: Mentors senior engineers and facilitates collaboration across teams. Influences and drives cross functional team collaboration with teams like PM, QA, Design. Mediates disagreements and drives alignment among stakeholders. Builds relationships within engineering and with cross functional partners and encourages knowledge sharing. Leadership is both technical and interpersonal, shaping team culture and performance.
  • Ownership & Scope: Owns and leads development projects with multiple components and teams. Sets architectural direction and ensures scalability and maintainability. Decisions significantly influence project and team outcomes. Scope includes large-scale solutions and strategic planning.
  • Impact: Broadly influences product and project success across teams. Contributions are measured by achievement of customer and operational objectives and OKRs. Work has material impact on business outcomes. Regularly drives innovation and technical strategy


Basic Qualifications
  • 7+ years of experience in a software engineering role, with a strong track record of designing, developing, and delivering production-grade applications.
  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, Information Systems, Software, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, or comparable field of study, and equivalent work experience.
  • Proficiency in C# and .NET technologies, including .NET Core / .NET 6+, ASP.NET Core, Web APIs, and modern backend service development.
  • Strong proficiency in Java and JVM-based languages, with extensive experience using Spring Boot, Spring Data, Spring Integration, and related Spring frameworks.
  • Comprehensive understanding of the full software development lifecycle, including continuous integration, automated testing (unit, integration, functional), code reviews, and documentation.
  • Strong experience with event-driven architectures (EDA) and publish/subscribe messaging systems such as Kafka, RabbitMQ, or AWS SNS/SQS.
  • Expertise in relational databases, including SQL, database schema design, stored procedures, query optimization, and data modeling.
  • Hands-on experience with API design and integration, including RESTful and event-based interfaces.
  • Working knowledge of authentication and authorization protocols, including OAuth 2.0 and related access management patterns.
  • Experience with AWS cloud services, such as S3, RDS, VPC, and messaging or streaming services.
  • Familiarity with distributed caching solutions and their application in high-performance systems.
  • Experience with enterprise and data integration concepts, tools, and best practices.
  • Experience monitoring and maintaining applications using modern observability tools and practices.
  • Strong grasp of object-oriented and functional programming paradigms and their practical application in complex systems.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across teams and disciplines.
  • Strong time management and problem-solving abilities, with a focus on breaking down complex challenges into actionable steps.
  • Experience working in Agile environments, contributing to iterative development and continuous improvement.

Preferred Qualifications
  • AWS (advanced cloud services and infrastructure management)
  • Kafka (real-time data streaming and event processing)
  • PostgreSQL (advanced database features and performance tuning)
  • Serverless computing (e.g., AWS Lambda or similar event-driven architectures)
  • Snowflake (cloud data warehousing and analytics)


The hiring range for this position in Glendale, CA is $152,200 to $204,100 per year. 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:
Content Platforms & Operations

Job Posting Primary Business:
CPO - Content Platforms

Primary Job Posting Category:
Software Engineer

Employment Type:
Full time

Primary City, State, Region, Postal Code:
Glendale, CA, USA

Alternate City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Date Posted:
2026-04-21

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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