Lead Product Designer (Ad Platforms)

The Walt Disney Company; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 212,000; Full time

Job summary

The Walt Disney Company is seeking a Lead Product Designer for Ad Platforms in San Francisco and Glendale. You will shape product strategy, mentor designers, and collaborate with engineering, product management, and leadership to deliver high-impact advertising and platform experiences.

You will drive complex projects, introduce new patterns, and leverage AI tooling to improve workflows while aligning with business goals and Disney's storytelling mission.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Experience shipping high-utility mobile or desktop applications.
• Strong product thinking, interaction design, and craft.
• Self-motivated with the ability to lead complex projects independently.
• Excellent communication with senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Ability to leverage data to inform design decisions.
• Experience using AI tooling to accelerate workflows.
• BA/BS degree required.

Responsibilities

• Lead Product Designers to drive high-priority initiatives from concept to delivery.
• Set goals and direction for the design team and build cross‑functional partnerships.
• Solve ambiguous design problems with expert product thinking and prototyping.
• Communicate clearly with executives and cross‑functional forums about progress.
• Mentor junior designers and contribute to process improvements and recruiting.

Skills

Product thinking

Leadership IC

Communication

AI tooling

Education

BA/BS

Tools

Figma

Job description

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Lead Product Designer (Ad Platforms)

Job ID 10162719 Location San Francisco, California, United States / Glendale, California, United States Business Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology Date posted Oct. 15, 2026

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.

Design is centrally responsible for the design supporting all consumer-facing and business products and tooling for the Disney Entertainment & ESPN portfolio, including sports, entertainment, enterprise, UX, creative services and design research.

About the Role

Disney’s technology organization is growing our team of passionate product designers on a mission to entertain, inform and inspire people around the globe through the power of unparalleled storytelling. As the group that develops Disney Plus, Hulu, ESPN+, and dozens of other Disney apps and enterprise products, we are builders with a relentless dedication to adding a little magic to people’s lives – whether they are streaming a Pixar movie or using the tools that power our business.

We are seeking an exceptional Lead Product Designer to fill a leadership IC role in our Ad Platforms team. As a key member of a growing design team driving high-priority initiatives, this person will have a unique opportunity to shape the future of Disney’s thriving streaming business. In addition to driving your own projects, you will work closely with cross-functional partners to define the roadmap, mentor other designers and uplevel the team’s design work. If you are passionate about shipping high-utility flows that are also high-craft, bringing simplicity to complex processes, leveraging AI for efficiency, and seeing your work have a direct impact on the bottom line, we’d love to hear from you.

This person will play a key part in shaping both the strategy, design vision, and product capabilities for our evolving and growing advertising platform. Key areas of focus include order management, campaign planning, audience targeting and optimization, customer relationship management, and financial systems. In addition to shipping high-caliber work, we are equally committed to a design culture that is inspiring, collaborative, and fun – and this person will have leadership opportunities to improve how we work.

Key Responsibilities

Lead Product Designers at Disney are resourceful problem solvers and IC leaders who collaborate with engineering, product management, and stakeholder leadership throughout the design process – in service of shipping impactful work. In this role, you will work independently to drive complex projects, identify new opportunities for impact, and ship work that sets the standard for the organization.

Specifically, the person in this role will be expected to:

• Take the lead and deliver projects of broad and/or ambiguous scope.
• Play a role in setting goals and direction for the team, while building influential partnerships with cross-functional peers.
• Solve foggy design problems, leveraging expert product thinking, interaction design, craft and prototyping – while introducing new patterns and standards when needed.
• Succinctly and effectively communicate their work and represent their product team to executive leadership or in cross functional forums.
• Actively mentor junior designers, strengthen culture, and participate in design-team-wide initiatives like recruiting, process improvement, standards development.

Qualifications

As an applicant to this role, we ask that your portfolio demonstrates:

• 7+ years of relevant industry experience
• Experience shipping high-utility mobile or desktop applications, simplifying complex user flows, or delivering new product innovation that disrupted conventions
• Standout product thinking, interaction design, and craft skills
• Deep understanding of user-centered design principles and best practices
• Self-motivated problem solving with the ability to lead complex projects independently
• Ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and persuasively, and to collaborate effectively with sr leaders and stakeholders
• Hunger for innovation, fluidity with ideas, eagerness to challenge the status quo
• Strong interest in and aptitude for leveraging data to inform design, and learning new technologies
• Strong work ethic, are a self-starter, adaptable, and inspire those around you
• Motivated to design solutions that solve business problems and deliver impact
• Expert knowledge of Figma and/or other design tools, and experience leveraging AI tooling to improve and accelerate workflows
• BA/BS required

PAY TRANSPARENCY

The hiring range for this position in San Francisco CA is $157,800-$211,600 per year and in Glendale CA the pay is $144,100-193,200 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.

Disney Entertainment & Sports LLC is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

Hiring Process

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The Next Chapter

Famous for grand-dame Victorians, cable cars, a dynamic waterfront, and a soaring golden bridge, San Francisco truly has it all. With trend-defining cuisine ranging from Michelin-starred dining to outrageous food trucks; world-renowned symphony, ballet, theater, and opera; plus almost boundless outdoor adventures, San Francisco justifiably stands out as one of the ultimate must-visit cities on any traveler’s wish list.

Our senior executives bring tremendous experience, visionary thinking and a shared commitment to excellence, creativity and innovation to the day to day operation of the company.

Explore our commitments and our work to create a better world through our stories, experiences, operations, and philanthropy.

At Disney, we want everyone to belong and thrive. Creating a welcoming and respectful environment for our employees and guests is core to our company culture and our business. We strive to build supportive work environments that drive innovation and reinforce a culture in which all employees feel welcome, respected, and valued.

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Heroes Work Here reflects the long history of respect and appreciation Disney has for the U.S. Armed Services. We recognize the commitment and dedication it takes to serve your country, both as military personnel and military spouses, and value the leadership skills and sense of purpose it has instilled in you.