Principal Software Engineer

The Walt Disney Company; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 201,000 - 271,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a Principal Software Engineer to drive innovation in media technology. This role involves designing high-performance platforms and collaborating with cross-functional teams to create scalable solutions. You'll champion engineering excellence while working on exciting projects that impact millions globally. Join a dynamic environment where creativity meets technology, and your contributions will help shape the future of entertainment. If you're passionate about software development and eager to tackle complex challenges, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience with large-scale Java services.
• Strong understanding of computer science fundamentals.

Responsibilities

• Designing software and specifications.
• Writing, testing, and deploying code.
• Providing technical mentorship and quality assurance.

Skills

Java

Object-Oriented Programming

CI/CD Pipelines

Technical Mentorship

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science

Equivalent experience

Tools

Source Control

Job description

Principal Software Engineer

Apply Now | Apply Later

Job ID: 10121255

Location: San Francisco, California, United States / Santa Monica, California, United States / Glendale, California, United States / New York, New York, United States

Business: Disney Entertainment

Date posted: 5月. 09, 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 touch points serving millions of people around the world.

Here are a few reasons why 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: 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 stories they carry – matter to millions globally.
• Innovation: We develop and implement groundbreaking products and techniques that shape industry norms and solve complex technical problems.

Product Engineering is responsible for the engineering of Disney Entertainment & ESPN digital and streaming products, including product engineering, media engineering, quality assurance, personalization, commerce, lifecycle, and identity.

The User Foundations team builds critical shared user capabilities across all streaming services: Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, and Star+. We implement reliable, high-throughput services and pipelines for user data and personalized experiences. We are a fast-paced, collaborative, and fun team, seeking someone who can start delivering from day one.

We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer passionate about developing high-performance platforms. Success requires effective communication, collaboration skills, a passion for learning, and a solid understanding of programming and computer science.

As part of our team, you will help deliver scalable, performant, maintainable, and testable software.

Things you’ll be working on:

• Identity patterns that help teams scale, create proposals, and drive adoption
• Challenging current architectural choices and solving problems innovatively
• Driving best engineering practices for quality, robustness, and maintainability
• Leading performance metrics and optimizing application performance and costs
• Collaborating with Product Management to translate business needs into technical solutions
• Leading architectural initiatives to inspire organizational change

Responsibilities:

• Designing software and specifications
• Writing, testing, documenting, and deploying code
• Providing technical mentorship and quality assurance
• Supporting and maintaining production products
• Designing solutions for challenging problems
• Championing engineering excellence
• Staying current with emerging technologies and tools

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, or equivalent experience
• 10+ years of experience with large-scale, highly available Java services and related technologies
• Strong Java and object-oriented programming skills, with solid CS fundamentals
• Experience with source control and CI/CD pipelines
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Experience leading cross-team projects and mentoring others

The salary range varies by location, e.g., in San Francisco, CA: $201,900 - $270,700 annually. Compensation may include bonuses and benefits, depending on experience and region.

About Disney Entertainment:

Disney’s innovative and far-reaching entertainment company, creating stories and experiences for families worldwide. Join a creative environment with world-class leaders and storytellers.

About The Walt Disney Company:

A leading global entertainment and media enterprise with segments including Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. With operations in over 40 countries, Disney continues its legacy of storytelling and innovation.

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

Disability Accommodation:

Disney is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants with disabilities can request accommodations by emailing [e-mail].