Senior Media Systems Engineer

The Walt Disney Company; Bristol (CT); On-site; USD 119,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Walt Disney Company in Bristol, CT is seeking a Sr. Media Systems Engineer to lead the technical implementation of broadcast production systems and cloud-based infrastructure.

This onsite role focuses on content acquisition, production, encoding, decoding, and distribution across Disney networks. You will drive modernization projects (SMPTE ST 2110, 4K/UHD HDR, JPEG XS, NDI, ProRes Raw, H.265, AV1) and coordinate facility upgrades with vendors and operations teams.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of broadcast engineering experience.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Engineering or Computer Science, or comparable field of study and/or equivalent work experience.
• Strong understanding of baseband/IP video, audio and digital compression, transport systems, audio/video encoding/transcoding techniques and formats.

Responsibilities

• Responsible and lead role for technical implementation of traditional broadcast production systems and cloud-based infrastructure that support content acquisition, production, encoding, decoding, and content distribution across multiple Disney technology networks.
• Take lead on projects to modernize legacy media production infrastructure to support SMPTE ST 2110, 4K/UHD HDR, JPEG XS, NDI, ProRes Raw, H.265, AV1, with multi-resolution support across facilities.
• Coordinate construction of facilities, upgrades and installation of equipment including core routing, intercom, playout, distribution, non-linear edit systems, graphics, storage, and automation; collaborate with engineers, manufacturers, and vendors.
• Develop facility needs assessments, project plans, schedules, capital planning, and vendor interactions to understand equipment relevancy for broadcasting facilities and operations.

Job description

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Job ID 10134556 Location Bristol, Connecticut, United States Business Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology Date posted Oct. 07, 2026

This is an onsite position and must sit in Bristol, CT four (4) days a week.

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.

Job Summary:

Disney Media Systems Engineers have a clear charter: to transform the capability and flexibility of how Disney acquires, produces, and distributes content worldwide, all while ensuring the highest levels of quality, efficiency, and resiliency.

Disney Media Systems Engineers often find themselves at the crossroads between hardware and software-based technology and must possess a comprehensive theoretical and practical understanding of the technology that powers the generation, monetization, and distribution of all forms of consumer- facing linear and digital video/audio content.

Responsibility includes numerous systems such as Playout Technology, Studios, Production Control Rooms, Remote Production, Post-Production, Contribution/Distribution Systems, Networking, Cloud Compute, Production Software and Virtual Environment and more. The Sr. Media Systems Engineer acts as a technical leader and is responsible for the design and implementation working closely with management and Executive Leadership to make recommendations and advance Disney’s technical posture.

The Media Systems Engineer will work with vendors and industry trade organizations to define and evolve industry standards, solutions that impact our business. The Sr. Media Systems Engineer will lead and own all aspects of the design and build of Disney’s most impactful projects and will leverage their experience to create documentation, procedures, and standards that drive all our technological development.

Responsibilities

• Responsible and play lead role for technical implementation of traditional broadcast production systems and cloud -based infrastructure that support content acquisition, production, encoding, decoding, and content distribution across multiple DE&E Technology networks (linear, digital, and streaming platforms).
• Take lead role on projects to modernize our legacy media production infrastructure systems to make way for advancements such as SMPTE ST 2110, 4K, UHD HDR, JPEGxs, NDI, ProRes Raw, H.265, AV1, including multi resolution support across broadcast facilities (720p/1080/4K/UHD/HDR), metadata conversion, audio mapping, system outages, microservices architecture tunning and related technical problems.
• Take lead role and coordinate the construction of facilities, upgrades and the installation of equipment including core routing, intercom, playout, distribution systems, non-linear edit systems, graphics, video servers, storage solutions, file acquisition, file transcode, file transfer, media asset management and automation systems. Collaborate closely with installation engineers, equipment manufacturers, vendors, technical operations staff, and others involved in the projects.
• Collaborate closely with DE&ET and operations’ management to assess facility needs. Develops project plans, schedules, and capital planning, forecasting and estimations. Collaborates closely with equipment manufacturers and vendors to understand the range of equipment that might be relevant to support broadcasting facilities and operations.

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of broadcast engineering experience
• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Engineering or Computer Science, or comparable field of study and/or equivalent work experience
• Strong understanding of baseband/IP video, audio and digital compression, transport systems, audio/video encoding/transcoding techniques and formats.
• Knowledge of file transfer acceleration technologies and techniques.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in AutoCAD
• Working knowledge of DNS, DHCP, TCP/IP, HTTP, UDP, SSL, and SNMP.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills
• Proficiency in at least one of the following languages: Perl, Python, Ruby, Shell, C or C++.
• Familiar with SMPTE standards for broadcast television and video production/streaming environments with a current certification such as not limited to ST 292M, ST 424M, ST 2110, ST 2059, IEE1588, ST 2022-7, SCTE-104, etc.
• Knowledge and experience with on-prem and cloud-based storage and compute infrastructure platforms and current technological offerings. File-based workflows like enterprise Media Asset Management systems (Cloud-based Cloud Compute or Local Network-based) including storage, compute, encode and distribution.
• Knowledge and experience with compression techniques such as MPEG2/4, HEVC, JPEG 2000, and JPEG XS.
• Knowledge and experience with major media systems and the vendors that supply them in areas such as signal routing infrastructure, intercom, playout, asset management systems, file-based workflows, media acquisition, transcoding/encoding, graphics, and NAS/SAN technologies.

#DISNEYTECH

The hiring range for this position in Bristol, CT is $119,200.00 to $159,800.00 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.

About Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology:

At Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology, we’re blending imagination and innovation to reimagine the ways people experience and engage with the world’s most beloved stories and products. Our work is wide-ranging and deeply sophisticated. We create amazing experiences, transform the future of media, and build products and platforms that enable the connection between people everywhere and the stories and sports they love.

Disney’s ability to marry world-class technology with one-of-a-kind creativity makes us unique. It is at the heart of our past, present, and future. We are Storytellers and Innovators. Creators and Builders. Entertainers and Engineers.

About The Walt Disney Company:

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.

This position is with Disney Entertainment & Sports LLC, which is part of a business we call Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology.

Disney Entertainment & Sports LLC is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military or veteran status, medical condition, genetic information or disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. 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.

To learn more about Disney's policies on the use of AI for candidates, click here.

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. We will only respond to those requests that are related to the accessibility of the online application system due to a disability.

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The Heart of Connecticut Bristol, Connecticut is just two hours from Boston and New York and just an hour from the shoreline. From the natural beauty of picturesque hills and fall foliage, to the high tech satellite dishes of ESPN, Bristol’s "City sized" with a small town vibe, offering wonderful memories no matter your pace.

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