Staff Systems Engineer, Data Streaming

The Walt Disney Company; Emeryville (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 233,000; Full time

Job summary

Pixar in Emeryville seeks a Staff Systems Engineer to join the Data Systems Engineering team. You will own Kafka infrastructure operations, migrate components to on-prem management, and collaborate with production and engineering teams to align data services with studio goals.

You’ll lead large projects, mentor teammates, and help shape the strategic direction of Pixar’s data systems while delivering reliable, scalable data services for filmmaking pipelines.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience maintaining mission-critical Linux services.
• Expertise administering Kafka or similar data streaming systems.
• Scripting skills in Python or shell for automation.
• Strong Linux engineering with IaC (Ansible, Puppet, Terraform).
• Collaborative mindset with mentoring ability.
• Problem solving and willingness to tackle cross-domain issues.
• Ability to lead large projects to completion.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Create and implement a strategy to migrate Kafka infrastructure on-prem and manage ongoing operations.
• Support filmmaking pipelines by managing asset version control (Perforce).
• Collaborate with production and engineering teams to shape data streaming strategy.
• Provide first-rate service and maintain a supportive team environment.
• Coordinate machine configuration, security, and patching policies with other Teams.
• Troubleshoot complex Linux issues and participate in on-call rotation.

Skills

Linux administration

Kafka admin

Scripting (Python/Shell)

Infrastructure as Code

Mentoring

Problem solving

Project leadership

Communication

Tools

Elasticsearch

Splunk

Oracle DB

Perforce P4

Job description

Pixar is seeking a Staff Systems Engineer to join our Data Systems Engineering (DSE) team! The DSE team builds, maintains, and supports vital studio systems, including data streaming services, asset version control systems and critical databases. Your focus will be supporting our Kafka infrastructure as well as partnering with the team to administer our asset version control system. You will also work to define and communicate a strategic vision for the team’s data systems that supports studio goals. By joining our team, you’ll contribute meaningfully to the production process, partnering with studio stakeholders to ensure our data services support both technical innovation and creative storytelling.

What You’ll Do

• Create and implement a strategy to migrate our Kafka infrastructure back to on-prem management, and own ongoing operations including maintenance, upgrades and support
• Support filmmaking pipelines by helping manage our digital asset version control system, built on Perforce P4
• Work with internal production and engineering teams, along with external vendors, to shape the strategic direction of Pixar’s data streaming offerings via resource planning, best practice recommendations and industry analysis
• Collaborate with teammates to create a supportive environment focused on providing first-rate service to the studio
• Work with other Systems teams to coordinate on machine configuration, security protocols and patching policies
• Troubleshoot challenging and complex issues in a Linux environment
• Participate in an on-call rotation for vital services

What You Bring

• 12+ years of experience implementing, maintaining and supporting mission-critical services on Linux
• Expertise in administering Kafka or other data streaming services
• Scripting skills (in Python or shell) that make automation your go-to
• Excellent Linux systems engineering skills, including practical knowledge of configuration / infrastructure as code (Ansible, Puppet, Terraform, etc.)
• Experience and enthusiasm for collaboration and mentoring
• Well-honed problem solving skills, including a willingness to pitch in to resolve issues even if they’re not part of your domain.
• Ability to lead large projects to completion
• Excellent written and oral communication skills including the ability to communicate highly-technical concepts to a non-technical audience

Bonus Points

• Familiarity with Perforce P4
• Experience working with vendor support
• Experience with other technologies the team manages: Elasticsearch, Splunk, Oracle DB
• Experience in an Animation or VFX studio environment
• Experience with operating and securing Cloud-based services

Why Pixar

At Pixar, you'll tackle meaningful technical challenges while contributing directly to the films that inspire millions. Beyond your technical work, you'll be part of a vibrant community where Pixarians express themselves through art, board games, maker projects, and more—you might find yourself spinning up new Kafka clusters by day and performing with your band at Pixarpalooza by night.

The hiring range for this position in Emeryville is $180,115.00 to $233,090.00 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.