Lead Software Engineer- Java

The Walt Disney Company; New York, Bristol, Glendale, Seattle (NY, CT, CA, WA); On-site; USD 159,000 - 214,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Lead Software Engineer specializing in Java to drive innovation in media technology. This role offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects that enhance storytelling and user engagement across platforms like Disney+ and ESPN. You'll collaborate with diverse teams to design and build scalable solutions, ensuring high availability and performance. If you are passionate about technology and eager to make a significant impact on millions of users worldwide, this role is perfect for you. Join a team that values creativity and technical excellence in a dynamic work environment.

Benefits

Health Insurance

Retirement Plans

Paid Time Off

Employee Discounts

Flexible Work Hours

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience developing large-scale Java services.
• Strong understanding of computer science fundamentals and design patterns.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and deploy core software in a cloud environment.
• Lead projects from design to production, ensuring operational excellence.

Skills

Java Programming

Cloud Environment Development

Agile/Scrum Methodologies

Design Patterns

CI/CD Pipelines

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science

Equivalent experience in Software Engineering

Tools

AWS

Source Control Systems

Caching Technologies

Job description

Lead Software Engineer- Java

Apply Now | Apply Later

Job ID: 10117217
Location: Seattle, Washington, United States / Bristol, Connecticut, United States / Glendale, California, United States / New York, New York, United States
Business: Disney Entertainment
Date posted: May 8, 2025

Job Summary:

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 touchpoints serving millions of people around the world.

Here are a few reasons why you’d love working here:

1. 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.

2. Reach, Scale & Impact: 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 more. These products and brands matter to millions globally.

3. Innovation: We develop groundbreaking products and techniques that shape industry norms and solve complex technical problems.

The Product & Data Engineering team is responsible for end-to-end development of Disney’s consumer-facing products, including Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, and digital experiences across Marvel, Disney Studios, NatGeo, and ABC News. The team drives innovation at scale for millions of consumers across various platforms, powering core experiences like personalization, search, messaging, and data.

Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the design, development, testing, deployment, and support of core software in a cloud environment.
• Drive projects end-to-end: designing solutions, collaborating with teams, coding, and deploying to production.
• Lead and reinforce operational excellence for system underpinning applications.
• Advocate for engineering best practices, including design patterns, code reviews, and automated testing.
• Handle architectural and design considerations focusing on security, reliability, efficiency, and flexibility.
• Mentor engineers to improve technical skills and professional profiles.
• Collaborate with product management, technical program management, operations, and other teams.
• Proven experience in designing backend architectures and driving consensus.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of experience developing large-scale, highly available Java services with various database and messaging technologies.
• Strong Java programming skills and understanding of computer science fundamentals.
• Experience with source control, CI/CD pipelines, caching technologies.
• Knowledge of design patterns, object-oriented and functional programming.
• Experience with Agile/Scrum methodologies.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with scalable, real-time software platforms.
• Extensive experience with AWS or similar cloud services.
• Experience optimizing complex cloud infrastructures.
• Skilled in task breakdown and estimation.

#DISNEYTECH

The hiring range varies by location, e.g., Seattle, WA: $159,500 - $213,900 per year. Actual offers depend on various factors including region, skills, and experience. Compensation may include bonuses, incentives, and benefits.

About Disney Entertainment:

Disney’s innovative and far-reaching entertainment company, creating memorable stories and experiences globally, with operations in over 40 countries.

About The Walt Disney Company:

A leading international entertainment and media enterprise with core segments including Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. Continues a legacy of world-class storytelling since the 1920s.

This position is with Disney Streaming Technology LLC, part of Disney Entertainment.

Disney is an equal opportunity employer, welcoming applicants regardless of race, religion, gender, or disability. For accommodations, contact [e-mail].

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