The Walt Disney Company

Principal Software Engineer, Ad Experiences

The Walt Disney Company$184K — $247K *
Consumer Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of software engineering experience.
  • BS or MS in Computer Science/Engineering or relevant work experience.
  • Advanced proficiency with Java, especially in multi-threading and garbage collection.
  • Expertise in front-end technologies: Node, React, NextJS, Express, Typescript, and Tailwind.
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and design skills in distributed services.

Responsibilities

  • Write and review code and tests, ensuring best practices are followed.
  • Support engineers during on-call shifts as required.
  • Translate product requirements into technical implementation tasks effectively.
  • Research and implement proofs-of-concept to enhance ad services.
  • Document software and system designs in a microservices environment.
  • Enhance system observability with appropriate metrics and alerts.
  • Mentor and inspire junior engineers in professional software development.

Benefits

  • Innovative and creative work environment at Disney.
  • Opportunities to work on cutting-edge technology.
  • Collaboration with diverse teams across the media landscape.
  • Access to training and professional development programs.
  • Work-life balance with expected in-office attendance four days a week.
Full Job Description
Job Posting Title:
Principal Software Engineer, Ad Experiences

Req ID:
10134830

Job Description:

Technology is at the heart of Disney's past, present, and future. Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology is a global organization of engineers, product developers, designers, technologists, data scientists, and more - all working to build and advance the technological backbone for Disney's media business globally.

The team marries technology with creativity to build world-class products, enhance storytelling, and drive velocity, innovation, and scalability for our businesses. We are Storytellers and Innovators. Creators and Builders. Entertainers and Engineers. We work with every part of The Walt Disney Company's media portfolio to advance the technological foundation and consumer media touch points serving millions of people around the world.

Here are a few reasons why we think you'd love working here:
  • Building the future of Disney's media: Our Technologists are designing and building the products and platforms that will power our media, advertising, and distribution businesses for years to come.
  • Reach, Scale & Impact: More than ever, Disney's technology and products serve as a signature doorway for fans' connections with the company's brands and stories. Disney+. Hulu. ESPN. ABC. ABC News...and many more. These products and brands - and the unmatched stories, storytellers, and events they carry - matter to millions of people globally.
  • Innovation: We develop and implement groundbreaking products and techniques that shape industry norms, and solve complex and distinctive technical problems.


Ad Platforms is responsible for Disney's industry-leading ad technology and products - driving advertising performance, innovation, and value in Disney's sports, news, and entertainment content, across all media platforms.

The Ad Experiences Fleet aims to unleash the magic of Disney by leveraging cutting-edge creative tools and fostering creative innovation to craft captivating, interactive ad experiences that deeply resonate with consumers and deliver superior value for our advertisers while enhancing the viewer experience to maximize revenue.

As part of our team, you'll develop and own systems that enable rapid prototyping, testing, and validation of interactive ad formats with real viewers and advertisers-fueling innovation and revenue growth across our CTV platforms. These experiences are then integrated into creative platforms also owned by the Fleet leading to new ad experiences available to all ad tier users.

As our team's Principal Software Engineer, you will apply your battle-tested experience, deep technical knowledge of software and systems, and leadership skills to help teams create scalable, performant, maintainable, and testable systems.

Daily, you should bring:
  • A willingness and desire to effectively communicate and collaborate across teams and organizations.
  • Demonstrated ownership and expertise in the projects delivered by our teams.
  • Proficiency in designing and implementing robust, scalable, tolerant distributed systems, as well as in advocating best practices to fellow engineers.
  • A passion for mentoring, learning, and adapting to a very dynamic and fast-paced environment.
  • A proven ability to work with product teams to influence and translate requirements into well-defined technical implementations, as well as the ability to define technical and operational metrics to measure system health.
  • Possess knowledge of relevant technologies and their potential applications within our systems, and be able to articulate their pros and cons.
  • A keen eye for potential optimizations and enhancements to our services using dedicated research time.
  • Kindness and pragmatic optimism.
  • Your unique view and experience.


Responsibilities and Expectations:
  • Writing and reviewing a lot of code and tests.
  • Reviewing code and test implementations for best practices and algorithmic complexity.
  • Available to support engineers on an On-Call shift, when needed.
  • Reading requirements documentation from Product, providing a perspective on feasibility and translating into implementation tasks, and partnering with teams' leads through execution as needed.
  • Exploring, researching, implementing proofs-of-concept, and proposing solutions that will improve Ad Serving systems (reduce cost and overhead, improve maintainability, minimize the time features take to be in production, etc).
  • Defining, reviewing, and documenting software and system designs in a high throughput, low latency microservices environment.
  • Enhancing systems' observability with proper metrics, monitors, and alerts.
  • Mentoring and inspiring others in all aspects of professional software development.


Basic Qualifications:
  • BS or MS in Computer Science/Engineering or relevant work experience
  • 10+ years of software engineering experience
  • Advanced proficiency with Java, such as understanding heap, multi-threading, garbage collection, profiling
  • Advanced proficiency with front end technologies such as Node, React, NextJS, Express, Typescript, Tailwind
  • Demonstrable analytical / problem-solving / design skills in a highly distributed and highly available services ecosystem
  • Excellent communication, collaboration skills, and a strong teamwork ethic with both technical and non-technical audiences


Comprehensive experience with:
  • SpringBoot and related Spring projects
  • Non-relational database technologies e.g. DynamoDB
  • Redis and/or MemCache
  • Apache Kafka and/or Kinesis
  • AWS or any other cloud platform
  • Observability tooling (logs, metrics, etc)
  • Front end technologies and frameworks such as Node, React, NextJS, Express, Typescript, Tailwind


Preferred Qualifications:
  • Comprehensive experience with Terraform, Docker, and Kubernetes
  • Ad Tech Industry knowledge.


Location:
  • Expected to be in the office four days a week.
  • Office location : Santa Monica / Seattle


#DISNEYTECH
The hiring range for this position in Los Angeles, CA is $184,300 - $247,100 per year and in Seattle, WA is $193,100 - $258,900 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:
Ad Platforms

Job Posting Primary Business:
AP - Software Engineering

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:
USA - CA - 2450 Broadway, USA - WA - 925 4th Ave

Date Posted:
2025-10-29

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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