Software Data Engineer

The Walt Disney Company; New York (NY); On-site; USD 114,000 - 152,000; Full time

Job summary

The Walt Disney Company’s Enterprise Media and Marketing team is seeking a Data Engineer to join the Performance Marketing group. This embedded role will help expand our toolset, build data workflows, and develop web applications that blend advertising with data-backed insights.

You will collaborate with marketers, software engineers, data scientists, and analysts to execute data-driven campaigns and maintain production pipelines that power key business metrics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years designing and delivering backend architectures in production.
• Strong understanding of AI/LLMs in software development; apply value over hype.
• Experience with Spark and SQL; building data pipelines at scale.
• Dived deep into technical components and translated business needs into requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop tools used by the Performance Marketing group.
• Define data engineering standards for pipelines, observability, and docs.
• Create end-to-end data pipelines from source to end users.
• Collaborate with marketing and analytics to iterate from prototype to production.
• Implement quality controls and monitoring for accurate campaign metrics.

Skills

Backend architecture

Spark

SQL

Python

Databricks

Snowflake

AWS

Terraform

AI/LLMs awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IS/SE or related field

Tools

Databricks

Snowflake

Terraform

AWS

Job description

Job Requirements

This in not a remote role. You must be in the local area or open to relocation.

About The Role & Team

Do you remember seeing trailers for The Devil Wears Prada 2 earlier this summer? What about digital spots for a cruise on the Disney Wish? Or the California Adventure Food and Wine Festival? If you did, it was likely because of the detailed planning and execution of The Walt Disney Company’s Enterprise Media and Marketing team…and if you didn’t – it’s probably because our targeting is that good.

We are looking for a Data Engineer to join the Performance Marketing arm of this media team. We are an integrated, cross-functional team of marketers, software engineers, data scientists, and analysts who help the Media team execute highly data-driven marketing campaigns and tactics.

As a Data Engineer, you will help expand our technology portfolio of innovative campaign planning tools, complex data science workflows, and elegant web applications that blend the art of advertising with the science of data-backed insights.

This role is unique – our team is embedded directly within the Disney media team. We're aligned, mission-driven, and free to move fast and innovate towards our goals. You’ll tackle the challenges of executing and optimizing precise paid media strategies, using the latest technologies and tools.

What You Will Do

• Contribute to the development of the suite of tools used by the Performance Marketing group
• Drive data engineering, data modeling, and architectural standards within the team; uphold standards and rigor around pipeline development, observability, and documentation
• Create and manage end-to-end data pipelines – from source system to end consumer teams, applications, and users
• Collaborate with the broader team of media/marketing experts to rapidly iterate from prototypes to high-quality, production pipelinesand applications
• Implement quality controls, monitoring, and other safeguards to ensure optimizations are accurately and safely applied to in-flight ad campaigns and key business metrics are always presented accurately

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent work experience).
• Must have 3+ years of experience designing and delivering backend architectures in a production environment, with a strong understanding of design patterns and best practices.
• Strong opinions on how to best use AI/LLMs in the software development process; ability to quickly discern hype from value in the quickly evolving AI landscape (and an equal ability to put it into practice)
• Experience with Spark and SQL; experience building simple and maintainable data pipelines on scaled data platforms
• Ability to dive deep into any technical component
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment with cross-functional teams to translate business needs into reality-based requirements

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working effectively with data science teams
• Specific experience with our stack: Spark, Python, Databricks/Snowflake, AWS, Terraform
• Knowledge of media buying and ad platforms including DMPs, Google Ads, Facebook/Instagram, Innovid, LiveRamp and DSPs (Google Display Video, The Trade Desk, Yahoo)

#TECHATDISNEY

Disclaimer

PAY TRANSPARENCY

The hiring range for this position located in New York City is $113,700.00 - $152,400.00 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.

This position is with Disney Entertainment Operations LLC, which is part of a business we call The Walt Disney Company (Corporate).

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