The Walt Disney Company

Sr Software Engineer

The Walt Disney Company$155K — $208K *
Information Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of backend or applied AI/ML engineering experience.
  • Proficiency in Python for scalable API/SDK development.
  • Hands-on experience with LLM APIs like OpenAI and frameworks such as LangChain.
  • Experience with enterprise AI services (AWS Bedrock, Azure AI Foundry).
  • Developed reusable agents or internal tooling for multiple teams.
  • Knowledge of safety techniques for LLMs including prompt safety and output validation.
  • Strong communication skills for collaboration across teams.

Responsibilities

  • Define shared design patterns for AI agents and services.
  • Establish reusable blueprints for standard AI solution development.
  • Build production-ready agents and libraries for common AI use cases.
  • Develop APIs and SDKs to simplify AI capability adoption.
  • Deliver core services integrated with enterprise systems.
  • Create web apps and dashboards showcasing AI capabilities and metrics.
  • Embed safety, compliance, and observability into shared components.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to shape the future of Disney's media technology.
  • Work on iconic products like Disney+, ESPN, and Hulu.
  • Collaborative environment with multidisciplinary teams.
  • Engagement in innovative projects that challenge industry standards.
Full Job Description
Job Posting Title:
Sr Software Engineer

Req ID:
10140845

Job Description:

Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology

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.

Job Summary:

We're hiring a Senior AI Engineer to build the AI core capabilities and tooling that accelerate teams across Ad Technology. You will create shared agents, initializers, registries, and reusable services and web applications that make it fast, safe, and cost-effective for engineering squads to adopt AI.
Your work will emphasize common design principles, guardrails, governance, observability, and evaluation, so teams can deliver high-quality AI solutions quickly-without reinventing the basics.
This role blends backend engineering, LLM orchestration, and developer enablement. You'll design APIs, SDKs, reusable agents, and web-based solutions that standardize adoption, define patterns for multi-turn interactions, and provide evaluation/traceability so teams can confidently scale AI across Disney Ad Tech.

Responsibilities and Duties of the Role:

AI Core Design & Principles
  • Define and implement shared design patterns for agents and services, including context management, retrieval, safety, and evaluation.
  • Establish reusable blueprints that standardize how AI solutions are built across Ad Tech.


Reusable Agents & Tools
  • Build production-ready agents, initializers, and libraries for common use cases (summarization, troubleshooting, semantic extraction).
  • Develop high-quality APIs and SDKs that simplify adoption of AI capabilities by other engineering teams.

Shared Services & Web Applications
  • Deliver core services for retrieval, memory, and orchestration, integrated with enterprise and consumer facing systems.
  • Create internal webapps and dashboards that expose AI capabilities, evaluation metrics, and adoption accelerators.

Safety, Governance & Observability
  • Embed guardrails, compliance checks, and prompt safety into all shared components.
  • Implement model evaluation and observability frameworks for quality, reliability, and cost monitoring at scale.


Required Education, Experience/Skills/Training:

Basic Qualifications
  • 5+ years of backend or applied AI/ML engineering with a track record of building production-grade systems.
  • Proficiency in Python (libraries, testing, packaging) and building scalable APIs or SDKs.
  • Hands-on experience with LLM APIs (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic, Claude) and frameworks such as LangChain or LangGraph.
  • Experience integrating with enterprise AI services such as AWS Bedrock or Azure AI Foundry, including model invocation, routing, and governance integration.
  • Experience developing reusable agents, libraries, or internal tooling adopted by multiple teams.
  • Knowledge of guardrails and evaluation techniques for LLMs, including prompt safety, output validation, and quality regression testing.
  • Strong collaboration and communication skills; able to work across infra, data, security, and product teams.
  • Bedrock or AI Foundry


Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience building AI enablement tooling (registries, agent initializers, internal frameworks) for enterprise use.
  • Familiarity with observability for AI systems: tracing, latency and cost dashboards, drift detection.
  • Knowledge of AI gateway patterns (e.g., routing, usage throttling, model fallback, quota enforcement).
  • Exposure to multi-agent orchestration, simulation frameworks, or synthetic data for testing/eval.
  • Understanding of enterprise governance: security, compliance, audit, and policy enforcement in AI systems.
  • Previous experience in a developer enablement role (platform engineering, frameworks, SDKs) where reusable components accelerated adoption across large organizations.


Required Education
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical field (Master's preferred), or equivalent experience.


#DISNEYTECH

The hiring range for this position in Glendale, California is $141,900 to 190,300 per year, Seattle, WA is $148,700 to $199,400, and San Francisco, CA is $155,400 to $208,400 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 - Market St, USA - WA - 925 4th Ave

Date Posted:
2026-01-22

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

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at The Walt Disney Company

More Information Technology Jobs

Find similar Sr Software Engineer jobs: