Senior Network Engineer (Project Hire)

The Walt Disney Company; Burbank (CA); On-site; USD 129,300 - 173,300; Full time

Job summary

The Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank, California is seeking a Senior Network Engineer (Project Hire) to join the Network Services team. You will design, deploy, and support on-premises and cloud networking, providing 24x7 operational coverage with cross-functional collaboration to ensure production networks remain reliable.

The role requires 5+ years of experience building large-scale networks, expertise with Cisco IOS/NX-OS, Arista, Palo Alto, and strong troubleshooting.

Qualifications

• Degree in CS/CE/IT or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years designing and implementing large-scale networks.
• Expert knowledge of Layer 1 technologies (CWDM/DWDM).
• Layer 2: Ethernet, MLAG/LACP, VPC, VLAN, LLDP, 802.1X, and 802.11ax.
• Layer 3: EIGRP, BGP, OSPF, VPNs.
• Layer 4: PXE, NAT, DHCP, DNS, NFS, NTP, SNMP, LDAP, HTTP, SQL, RTP.
• Linux/macOS/Unix familiarity.
• Experience with TACACS and RADIUS.
• Proficient with network analysis tools: TCPDump, Wireshark, IPerf, etc.
• Experience with Cisco, Palo Alto, Arista, Infoblox, Aruba Clearpass.

Responsibilities

• Partner with stakeholders to deploy and optimize on-prem and cloud networks.
• Install and configure Cisco/NX-OS, Arista, Aruba Clearpass, Palo Alto devices.
• Configure networking across Linux, macOS, Windows, and containers.
• Collaborate on network security and performance improvements.
• Participate in team discussions and document processes.
• Guide adjacent teams on design-to-implementation challenges.
• Conduct root-cause analysis for outages and preventive actions.
• Publish detailed documentation of workflows and procedures.
• Manage vendor contracts and budgeting for networking needs.

Skills

Networking design

Cisco IOS/NX-OS

Arista

Palo Alto

Linux/macOS

Network monitoring

Documentation

Vendor coordination

Troubleshooting

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/CE/IT or equivalent

Tools

Cisco IOS

NX-OS

Arista

Aruba Clearpass

Palo Alto firewalls

Infoblox

Wireshark

TcpDump

IPERF

Zabbix

VPC/MLAG

Job description

Senior Network Engineer (Project Hire)

Job ID 10157158 Location Burbank, California, United States Business Walt Disney Animation Studios Date posted Jul. 29, 2026

Job Summary:

At Walt Disney Animation Studios, we believe that creativity inspires technology, and technology inspires creativity. The Platform and Infrastructure group within the Technology department is responsible for the design, implementation, and support of the critical infrastructure behind the content our studio creates. We are looking for a Senior Network Engineer to join the Network Services team. The team is responsible for the ongoing installation, monitoring, support, and maintenance of data networks inside and outside our Burbank and Vancouver studio locations as well as cloud providers. This includes in-depth system analysis, design, troubleshooting, and integration of new products, as well as developing tools and strategies to improve existing systems.

Role Overview

You will enjoy the diversity and challenges of working across every level of the tech stack, engaging with team members and stakeholders on a variety of initiatives depending on the Studio's needs. You'll need to demonstrate self-direction, while also supporting your team with fresh insight for shared problem-solving, and building trusted relationships with technical and non-technical users to understand their challenges and deliver the right solutions. You'll provide technical support, including 24x7 operational coverage, along with the skills to select, connect, configure, and troubleshoot a range of networking devices and routing architectures.

Our studio thrives on a wide variety of technical backgrounds and experiences; therefore, we encourage applicants to apply even if they do not match all requirements listed below. Bring your unique talents and ideas to our team, and join Disney’s creative legacy.

Responsibilities

• Partner closely with stakeholders and technical teams to deploy, manage, and optimize systems and services on our on-premises network infrastructure and/or cloud environments
• Install and configure networking technology from multiple manufacturers including Cisco (IOS), Cisco Nexus (NXOS), Arista, Aruba Clearpass, and Palo Alto Networks
• Configure networking for systems across multiple operating systems including Linux, macOS, Windows, Virtual Machines/containers, mobile devices, and scale-out storage clusters
• Act as a collaborator with the larger Technology team on issues of network security and performance
• Participate actively in team discussions and work with leadership to continually improve procedures and policies across the studio
• Provide guidance to neighboring teams on technical challenges from design to implementation
• Conduct high-level root-cause analysis for service interruptions and establish preventive measures
• Publish and maintain detailed documentation regarding our processes and workflows
• Manage product support and maintenance contracts, engage closely with vendors, and work with leadership on the yearly budget for networking needs

Requirements

• Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or another related technical field, or equivalent work experience
• 5+ years of experience designing and implementing network solutions for large-scale, high-performance compute and storage environments
• Expert-level knowledge of:
• Layer 1 technologies: Structured cabling systems, CWDM, and DWDM Optical networking
• Layer 2 protocols: Ethernet (1, 10, 40, 50, 100, and 400 Gbps), Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation Control Protocol (MLAG & LACP), Virtual Port-Channel (VPC), VLAN Tagging (802.1Q), LLDP (802.1AB), Network Access Control, and Dynamic VLAN Assignment (via 802.1X), and Wireless (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
• Layer 3 routing & technologies: EIGRP, BGP, OSPF, and VPNs (IPsec/SSL)
• Layer 4 network services & protocols: PXE, NAT, DHCP, DNS, NFS, NTP, SNMP, LDAP, HTTP, SQL, and RTP
• Knowledge of Linux, macOS, or other Unix-based Operating Systems
• Strong knowledge of access control systems and protocols including TACACS and RADIUS
• Expertise with network analysis and performance tools, TCPDump, Wireshark, TTCP, IPerf, IXIA, SNMP, Netflow, and Zabbix
• Experience with the installation and configuration of industry-leading inter-networking technologies such as Cisco, Palo Alto, Arista, Infoblox, Aruba Clearpass, etc.
• Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to multitask in a highly complex, diverse production environment
• Highly self-directed, with the ability to both manage and prioritize multiple concurrent and competing challenges, ambiguities, and contradictions that inevitably occur when supporting live production

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficient in software development methodologies and processes; including agile methods, continuous integration, and version control
• Cisco CCNA/CCNP, Palo Alto PCNSA
• Prior experience working in a Media, Entertainment, Games, or Animation production environment

The hiring range for this position in California is $129,300.00-$173,300.00 per year based on a 40 hour work week. The amount of hours scheduled per week may vary based on business needs. 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 Walt Disney Animation Studios:

Combining masterful artistry and storytelling with groundbreaking technology, Walt Disney Animation Studios is a filmmaker-driven animation studio responsible for creating some of the most beloved films ever made. Disney Animation continues to build on its rich legacy of innovation and creativity, from the first fully-animated feature film, 1937's “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” to 2025’s “Zootopia 2.” Among the studio's timeless creations are “Pinocchio,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “The Jungle Book,” “The Little Mermaid,” “The Lion King,” “Frozen,” “Moana” and “Encanto.”

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 Walt Disney Pictures , which is part of a business we call Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Walt Disney Pictures 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.

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