Senior AI / Data Engineer

Disney Cruise Line - The Walt Disney Company; Celebration (FL); On-site; Confidential; Full time

Job summary

Disney Cruise Line - The Walt Disney Company in Orlando, FL seeks a Data Engineer III to design and build AI-powered data platforms, pipelines, and analytics using cloud-native tech. You will work with SQL, Python, Spark, and modern data tools to turn raw data into actionable insight.

As part of Disney Experiences Intelligence, you’ll collaborate across teams, implement scalable ETL/ELT workflows, and advance data governance, security, and quality while embracing agile practices.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of related work experience.
• Proficiency in data pipelining, ELT/ETL, data architecture, and data lifecycle management.
• Strong development skills in SQL, Python, Java, and Apache Spark with SQL/TSQL expertise.
• Experience with relational and NoSQL databases (e.g., Snowflake, MongoDB, DynamoDB, Redis, Cassandra).
• Familiarity with AWS and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
• Comfortable in an Agile/Scrum environment.
• Proficiency in Object Oriented Programming and Big Data concepts.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to design, construction, and supervision of data architectures and data flows.
• Develop processes to streamline data routing, storage, and transformation using cloud and local options.
• Apply tools for data cleansing, organization, and upkeep, including AI/ML techniques.
• Uphold design standards and QA for data connections, transmissions, and storage.
• Align data operations with organizational objectives and priorities.
• Stay up to date with emerging technologies.
• Provide support escalation and enhance existing tools as needed.

Skills

SQL

Python

Java

Apache Spark

NoSQL databases

AWS

GCP

Agile/Scrum

OOP & Big Data

Airflow

Docker

Kubernetes

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Snowflake

MongoDB

DynamoDB

Redis

HBase

Cassandra

Cloudera Data Platform

Google BigQuery

Open Iceberg

S3

Glue

Kinesis

Job description

“We Power the Magic!” That’s our motto at Disney Experiences (DX). Our team creates world-class immersive digital experiences for the Company’s premier vacation brands including Disney’s Parks & Resorts worldwide, Disney Cruise Line, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, and Disney Vacation Club.

We are responsible for the end-to-end digital and physical Guest experience for all technology & digital-led initiatives across the Attractions & Entertainment, Food & Beverage, Resorts & Transportation and Merchandise lines of business as well as other initiatives including MyDisneyExperience and Hey, Disney!

This role sits in the (DAI) “Data Analytics & Innovation” organization within (DXi) “Disney Experiences Intelligence.

The Data Engineer III role, will report to the Senior Manager, Data Services.

About The Role & Team:

The Data Analytics & Innovation (DAi) team within Disney Experiences Intelligence (DXi) builds and operates the data platforms, AI-powered applications, and intelligence systems that turn raw data into insight and action across Disney's premier vacation brands. We are actively modernizing onto a cloud-native data platform while building AI applications from the ground up on our internal AI frameworks.

We are looking for an engineer first. Someone who can sit with an ambiguous, complex problem, listen carefully to what the business actually needs, and design an optimized solution rather than reach for the first pattern that fits. This role goes well beyond ETL. As a Data Engineer III, you will engineer AI-powered applications end to end, from architecture and design through build and delivery, using our AI frameworks as the foundation.

You will bring core data disciplines (pipelining, transformation, and the full data lifecycle) and apply them with strong engineering judgment: weighing tradeoffs, designing for performance and scale, and building solutions that hold up over time. You will also work directly with our partners in Data Strategy and AI Innovation, fellow teams under the DAi umbrella, to align on priorities and turn strategy into working solutions. Just as important, you will thrive in an AI-powered environment that changes daily. The tools, frameworks, and capabilities available to us evolve constantly, and we need engineers who stay curious, adapt quickly, and figure out how to put new capabilities to work rather than wait for the ground to settle.

What You'll Do:

• Contribute to the design, construction, and supervision of technology architecture, solutions, and software dedicated to capturing, managing, and using both structured and unstructured data from various sources

• Develop efficient processes and structures based to streamline data flow, routing, and storage, adhering to both business and technical specifications, and leveraging cloud and local storage options as required

• Apply technical tools and programming skills for the purposes of data cleansing, organization, transformation, and upkeep, integrating automation and advanced methodologies such as big-data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning

• Uphold design standards and quality assurance protocols for the development of software and systems, ensuring seamless data compatibility, functionality, and integrity across all data connections, transmissions, and storage platforms

• Evaluate internal and external business and product requirements to ensure alignment of data operations and endeavors with overarching organizational objectives and priorities

• You will be expected to stay up to date with emerging technologies

• May be required to provide support escalation, oversee the ongoing operations, and support the enhancement of existing tools as needed

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years of related work experience

• Proficiency in fundamentals of data pipelining, ELT/ETL processes, data architecture, and the overall data lifecycle, complemented by hands-on experience in designing and implementing efficient data workflows and processes

• Strong development skills in cross-platform languages such as SQL, Python, Java, and Apache Spark coupled with a deep understanding of SQL/TSQL for crafting performant queries and extracting insights from complex datasets

• Experience with both relational database and NoSQL databases (e.g., Cloudera Data Platform, Snowflake, Google Big Query, MongoDB, DynamoDB, Redis, HBase, Cassandra), demonstrating competence in working with diverse storage systems and optimizing data structures for enhanced performance and scalability

• Familiarity with cloud technologies including AWS and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), demonstrating their powerful toolsets for seamless data ingestion, processing, and management

• Comfortable working in an agile environment, with prior experience in Agile and Scrum methodologies, ensuring adaptability to evolving project requirements and effective collaboration with cross-functional teams

• Proficiency in Object Oriented Programming and Big Data Engineering Concepts, with a proactive demeanor towards continuous learning and skill development, and an interest in mastering emerging data engineering tools and methodologies

Preferred Qualifications:

• AI & Application Development - Hands-on experience building AI-powered applications, ideally on an internal or managed AI framework (agentic workflows, LLM integration, retrieval-augmented generation, and orchestration/tooling patterns such as MCP)

• Languages & Engineering - Strong Python proficiency with sound software engineering practices (modularity, testing, code review); SQL/TSQL for performant query design

• Modern Data Platform - Experience with lakehouse architectures (open table formats such as Apache Iceberg on object storage) and cloud data warehousing/compute (Snowflake)

• Data Processing - Spark, Glue, Flink, or equivalent distributed processing frameworks; orchestration tooling (e.g., Airflow)

• Cloud (AWS preferred) - Core AWS data and compute services such as S3, Lambda, Glue, Kinesis, DMS, and EventBridge

• CI/CD & DevOps - Pipeline automation with GitLab, GitHub, or Jenkins; containerization with Docker and orchestration (ECS/EKS)

• Security - IAM roles, KMS, wire encryption, and enterprise auth (OAuth2/SAML, Active Directory)

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, or comparable field of study, and/or equivalent work experience

#DISNEYTECH

The hiring range for this position in Orlando, FL is $135,200 - $181,200 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.