Manager, Software Engineering

At Disney, we’re storytellers. We make the impossible, possible. The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) is a world-class entertainment and technological leader. Walt’s passion was to continuously envision new ways to move audiences around the world—a passion that remains our touchstone in an enterprise that stretches from theme parks, resorts and a cruise line to sports, news, movies and a variety of other businesses. Uniting each endeavor is a commitment to creating and delivering unforgettable experiences — and we’re constantly looking for new ways to enhance these exciting experiences.

Disney Experiences Technology creates world-class immersive experiences for Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, and beyond. As the Manager of Technology for Site Specific Apps, you will lead the software delivery and product teams responsible for the critical "engines" of our operation. Your portfolio includes a diverse array of specialized applications—from Textile Operations and Animal Services to the Disney College Program applications.

We are looking for a leader who pairs deep software engineering rigor with a visionary approach to Artificial Intelligence. You won't just implement AI in the products; you will revolutionize the way we build them—leveraging AI to gain quality and efficiency throughout the entire Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).

What you will do:

• Engineering Excellence: Drive high standards across software engineering, ensuring security, reliability, monitoring, cost awareness, service level agreements, and responsible usage across apps and platforms. Partner with infrastructure, security, accessibility, and vendor sustainment teams to ensure systems are production-ready, compliant, scalable, and resilient.
• Technical Leadership & Architecture: Act as a technical leader for your portfolio, shaping application architecture, integration patterns, and engineering best practices while remaining close enough to the work to ensure engineering rigor.
• Team Leadership: Direct a team of software engineers and product professionals, fostering a "people-first" culture that prioritizes mentorship, and growth.
• AI-Driven SDLC: Implement a vision for "Next-Gen" engineering by integrating GenAI tools into every phase of the lifecycle—from automated requirement gathering and code generation to intelligent testing and deployment.
• Business Operations Technology Delivery: Lead delivery squads in the design and execution of technology solutions that solve real-world operational challenges, ensuring technology always drives measurable business outcomes.
• Roadblock Removal: Act with a relentless bias for action, identifying and removing technical or organizational hurdles to ensure the team remains focused on high-value delivery.
• Financial Management: Accurately forecast and manage the budget for your area, utilizing financial tracking as a primary indicator of project health and delivery velocity.

Who you are:

• Constantly Curious: You are a lifelong learner who is always looking for ways to improve yourself, your team, and the business processes you support.
• Technical Polyglot: You are adept in modern software architecture and stay hands-on enough to ensure the engineering rigor of your team remains elite.
• People-First Leader: You lead through influence and empathy, understanding that "The Magic" starts with a supported and empowered team.
• Optimistic Problem Solver: You have never met a problem you wouldn’t attempt to solve. You thrive in complexity and find a path forward where others see dead ends.

What makes this role unique:

• Build and hold vast stakeholder partnerships across various cast operations lines of business, encompassing the full portfolio ranging from Textiles supply chain, Park/Zoo Animal Services, Disney Media Events, and the Disney College Program, to provide end-to-end product experience and ensure data-driven outcomes.
• Direct impact on real-world, on-site operations that power Disney Experiences.
• Opportunity to shape how GenAI is responsibly applied across operational technology.
• High ownership across people, delivery, and technical direction.
• Ability to modernize legacy operational systems while building next-generation capabilities.

Required Qualifications & Skills:

• Leadership Experience: 8 years of related work experience, with at least 5 years of experience managing high-performing software delivery or product teams and leading through influence.
• Engineering Rigor: Deep experience in the full Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), with a proven track record of delivering enterprise-grade applications.
• Financial Acumen: Proven ability to manage budgets and accurately forecast financial needs; ability to use financial data to assess and communicate the health of project delivery.
• AI Visionary: Practical experience or a clear strategic vision for using AI/LLMs to improve code quality, testing automation, and development velocity.
• Business Operations Technology Aptitude: Ability to navigate complex, multi-site business operations and translate them into technology requirements and delivery priorities.
• Vendor & Resource Management: Experience managing a mix of internal Cast members and third-party resources to ensure delivery consistency and quality.

Required Education:

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