Product Software Engineer II

Disney; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 119,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Walt Disney Company in Santa Monica, CA is seeking a Product Software Engineer II to join the Playback Services team within the Media Engineering group. You will design and implement high-performance backend services that enable media playback and delivery across Disney platforms.

Responsibilities include leading architecture discussions, contributing to production reliability, mentoring engineers, and sharing knowledge through the DSS technical community.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software Engineering, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, or comparable field of study, and/or equivalent work experience
• 3+ years related experience crafting backend architectures and delivering backend applications in production; knowledge of large-scale, high-availability backend services and JVM
• Experience building RESTful services (Scala APIs) and async programming models; threading/concurrency
• Strong CS fundamentals (data structures, algorithms, databases) and design patterns
• Experience with Public Cloud (e.g. AWS) and source control; CI/CD pipelines
• Experience with build/deployment (Jenkins, Docker) and messaging (Kafka, Kinesis, SQS)
• Observability tools (Datadog, Splunk, Grafana); caching technologies; AGILE practices
• Strong written and verbal communication; self-driven, problem solver

Responsibilities

• Build high-performance, stable, scalable backend systems for enterprise use
• Lead architecture discussions and set coding standards within the team
• Participate in on-call rotations to support production systems
• Mentor other engineers and share knowledge within DSS community
• Engage in presentations and tech talks to promote best practices

Skills

Backend architectures

Scala APIs

JVM services

Async programming

CS fundamentals

Agile/Scrum

Design patterns

Public Cloud (AWS)

Git & CI/CD

High-availability systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS or related

Tools

Jenkins

Docker

Kafka

Kinesis

SQS

Datadog

Splunk

Grafana

Git

Job description

Job ID 10163741 Location Santa Monica, California, United States Business Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology Date posted Nov. 05, 2026

On any given day at Disney Entertainment & ESPN Technology, we’re reimagining ways to create magical viewing experiences for the world’s most beloved stories while also transforming Disney’s media business for the future. Whether that’s evolving our streaming and digital products in new and immersive ways, powering worldwide advertising and distribution to maximize flexibility and efficiency, or delivering Disney’s unmatched entertainment and sports content, every day is a moment to make a difference to partners and to hundreds of millions of people around the world.

A few reasons why we’d love working here:

• Building the future of Disney’s media business: DE&E Technologists are designing and building the infrastructure that will power Disney’s media, advertising, and distribution businesses for years to come.
• Reach & Scale: The products and platforms this group builds and operates delight millions of consumers every minute of every day – from Disney+ and Hulu, to ABC News and Entertainment, to ESPN and ESPN+, and much more.
• Innovation: We develop and execute groundbreaking products and techniques that shape industry norms and enhance how audiences experience sports, entertainment & news.

Media Engineering is an innovative organization that is focused on providing the best possible video playback experience, art, and metadata to customers around the world, powered by exceptional technology. This strategic work requires streamlining and repurposing technology across different business and distribution channels – including streaming, linear, and theatrical – so that technology can ebb and flow across the needs of the business.

Disney Entertainment and ESPN Technology is looking for a Product Software Engineer II to join the Playback Services team within the Media Engineering organization! Our mission is to build highly available, high throughput services that are crucial to delivering high quality content to our subscribers. We are responsible for the backend of media playback, facilitating media selection, device customization, and antipiracy technologies. If you enjoy streaming media, are interested in live sports and entertainment, or just want to join a fast-growing team that plays a significant role in the core functionality of our streaming products, then this role is for you!

Responsibilities

• Work with a team of engineers to build high-performance, stable, scalable systems to be deployed in an enterprise setting
• Lead high-level architecture discussions and planning sessions, author and share feedback on technical proposals and root cause analyses, and establish standards within the team to drive quality and excellence
• Participate in the on-call rotation, supporting systems and services during production incidents
• Provide mentoring and advice for other engineers
• Participate in the DSS technical community through presentations, tech talks, and other knowledge-sharing efforts

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software Engineering, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, or comparable field of study, and/or equivalent work experience
• 3+ years related experience crafting backend architectures and delivering backend applications in a production environment. Validated knowledge of operating large-scale high-availability backend services and JVM services
• Expertise in functional programming patterns and experience building RESTful services (Scala APIs)
• Understanding of async programming models (events, callbacks, promises, async/await) and threading/concurrency
• Strong grasp of computer science fundamentals (data structures, algorithms, databases, etc.) and strong understanding of design patterns and principles
• Experience operating within a Public Cloud Provider (e.g., AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud)
• Understanding of source control concepts and systems, CI/CD pipelines and exposure to Git
• Experience with build and deployment technologies such as Jenkins and Docker. Experience with messaging technologies (e.g., Kafka, Kinesis, SQS, etc.)
• Experience with observability tools for metrics, logging, and monitoring (e.g., Datadog, Splunk, Grafana)
• Knowledge of caching technologies
• Knowledge of AGILE/Scrum practices
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Self-learner, independent, excellent problem-solving skills

#DISNEYTECH

Disclaimer

PAY TRANSPARENCY

The hiring range for this position in Santa Monica, CA is $119,200 - $159,800 per year, and in New York, NY, it’s $124,900 - $167,400 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.

This position is withDisney Entertainment & Sports LLC, which is part of a business we callDisney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology.

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.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION FOR EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS

The Walt Disney Company and its Affiliated Companies are Equal Employment Opportunity employers and welcome all job seekers including individuals with disabilities and veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or apply for a position, visit the Disney candidate disability accommodations FAQs (opens in new window) . We will only respond to those requests that are related to the accessibility of the online application system due to a disability.

Basking in sunshine 280 days of the year and located just 20 minutes west of Downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica is a walkable oasis teeming with outdoor adventures, luxury wellness spas and opportunities to kick back under blue skies and awe-inspired sunsets.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Culture & Values Employee Stories Students & Recent Graduates Disney on the Yard

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.

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.

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.