Sr Manager, Data Engineering
The Walt Disney Company, Lake Buena Vista, FL, United States
Job Summary
The Disney Decision Science and Integration (DDSI) team leverages advanced technologies, data analytics, and scientific approaches such as optimization and statistical modeling to build innovative tools that shape business decisions across Disney Entertainment, ESPN, Disney Experiences and Corporate Finance.
What You Will Do
The Data Engineering team leads the acquisition and processing of all data needed for projects across DDSI. The Senior Manager, Data Engineering role is responsible for managing a team that does research, development, and delivery related to advanced analytic data solutions, leveraging GenAI.
The team is involved in various product development activities ranging from data acquisition and validation, designing and implementing ETL/ELT data pipelines, designing databases and knowledge graphs, integration with enterprise data platforms, and ad-hoc analytics.
The Senior Manager role is also responsible for helping to drive the DDSI Data Engineering organization forward with generative AI adoption and advanced tools, as well as updated processes.
The team should leverage generative AI development tools to work efficiently, and design, build, and operate intelligent agentic systems that power large‑scale, data intensive applications.
This role will partner with business and technology leaders to understand the business scope and data from across the Disney company in order to create a strategic roadmap for development. Other responsibilities include estimating, managing work assignments across the team, ensuring consistency of design patterns/principles across the portfolio of projects, and working to remove technical, business and organizational roadblocks for the team.
The Senior Manager is also responsible for hiring decisions, establishing career goals for cast, providing performance evaluations, ensuring the team is staffed properly and has the right skills necessary for the job.
The ideal candidate has a diverse background not only in Data Engineering, but also multiple technology areas which might include Generative AI, Architecture, Data Warehousing, Application Development, Networking and/or Infrastructure.
Required Qualifications & Skills
10+ years experience in technology roles, preferably in data engineering, software engineering, and/or architecture
3+ years prior experience in a technology management capacity
Ability to identify, evaluate, and implement new technology platforms, tools and solutions to meet upcoming business needs
Experience leveraging generative AI tools for efficient development and deployment of data solutions
Understanding of Generative AI tools and concepts such as LLMs, RAG, Knowledge Graphs and Agents
Proven experience defining and leading strategic initiatives
Ability to bridge the business and technical world, and demonstrate business and domain knowledge
Experience establishing and leading large teams
Ability to drive comprehensive solutions from scoping through implementation, meet deadlines, and balance multiple priorities
Prior focus on designing and developing reusable tools to benefit projects across the department
Demonstrated ability to communicate at all levels and influence up to executives
Experience managing large data platforms, supporting one or multiple applications
Experience with both structured and unstructured data
Experience leading efforts in designing, building and maintaining ETL/ELT data pipelines
Strong understanding of relational database design and proficiency utilizing tools such as PostgreSQL, Snowflake, Aurora or similar
Deep understanding in the differences and uses between application databases, data warehouses, and data lakes
Broad experience across technologies and tools related to data, applications, infrastructure, and architecture
Experience with modern cloud-based tools, both licensed and open-source, preferably AWS
Experience managing and deploying code using a source control product such as GitLab/GitHub
Experience leveraging containerization technologies such as Docker or Kubernetes
Passion for driving standards, processes, and consistency
Desired Qualifications
Hands‑on experience using GenAI models and related tools
Experience building agents and creating agentic orchestration
Prior experience with Theme Park, Hospitality, or Entertainment industries
Prior experience in a DBA capacity and with performance tuning
Knowledgeable with Architecture Principles and Design
Experience leveraging Snowflake in an OLTP and OLAP capacity
Multiple years of experience with Python and SQL
Familiarity with data streaming and batch data processing
Knowledgeable knowing how to leverage job scheduling software like Apache Airflow
Involved in driving standard practices around data engineering software development processes
Required Education
Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Systems, Software, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, or comparable field of study and/or equivalent work experience
Preferred Education
Master’s degree
Compensation
The hiring range for this position in Lake Buena Vista, FL is $179,500 to $240,600 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.
Equal Opportunity & EEO Statement
Disney Worldwide Services, Inc. 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.
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, email Candidate.Accommodations@Disney.com with your request. This email address is not for general employment inquiries or correspondence. 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 Disney Decision Science and Integration (DDSI) team leverages advanced technologies, data analytics, and scientific approaches such as optimization and statistical modeling to build innovative tools that shape business decisions across Disney Entertainment, ESPN, Disney Experiences and Corporate Finance.
What You Will Do
The Data Engineering team leads the acquisition and processing of all data needed for projects across DDSI. The Senior Manager, Data Engineering role is responsible for managing a team that does research, development, and delivery related to advanced analytic data solutions, leveraging GenAI.
The team is involved in various product development activities ranging from data acquisition and validation, designing and implementing ETL/ELT data pipelines, designing databases and knowledge graphs, integration with enterprise data platforms, and ad-hoc analytics.
The Senior Manager role is also responsible for helping to drive the DDSI Data Engineering organization forward with generative AI adoption and advanced tools, as well as updated processes.
The team should leverage generative AI development tools to work efficiently, and design, build, and operate intelligent agentic systems that power large‑scale, data intensive applications.
This role will partner with business and technology leaders to understand the business scope and data from across the Disney company in order to create a strategic roadmap for development. Other responsibilities include estimating, managing work assignments across the team, ensuring consistency of design patterns/principles across the portfolio of projects, and working to remove technical, business and organizational roadblocks for the team.
The Senior Manager is also responsible for hiring decisions, establishing career goals for cast, providing performance evaluations, ensuring the team is staffed properly and has the right skills necessary for the job.
The ideal candidate has a diverse background not only in Data Engineering, but also multiple technology areas which might include Generative AI, Architecture, Data Warehousing, Application Development, Networking and/or Infrastructure.
Required Qualifications & Skills
10+ years experience in technology roles, preferably in data engineering, software engineering, and/or architecture
3+ years prior experience in a technology management capacity
Ability to identify, evaluate, and implement new technology platforms, tools and solutions to meet upcoming business needs
Experience leveraging generative AI tools for efficient development and deployment of data solutions
Understanding of Generative AI tools and concepts such as LLMs, RAG, Knowledge Graphs and Agents
Proven experience defining and leading strategic initiatives
Ability to bridge the business and technical world, and demonstrate business and domain knowledge
Experience establishing and leading large teams
Ability to drive comprehensive solutions from scoping through implementation, meet deadlines, and balance multiple priorities
Prior focus on designing and developing reusable tools to benefit projects across the department
Demonstrated ability to communicate at all levels and influence up to executives
Experience managing large data platforms, supporting one or multiple applications
Experience with both structured and unstructured data
Experience leading efforts in designing, building and maintaining ETL/ELT data pipelines
Strong understanding of relational database design and proficiency utilizing tools such as PostgreSQL, Snowflake, Aurora or similar
Deep understanding in the differences and uses between application databases, data warehouses, and data lakes
Broad experience across technologies and tools related to data, applications, infrastructure, and architecture
Experience with modern cloud-based tools, both licensed and open-source, preferably AWS
Experience managing and deploying code using a source control product such as GitLab/GitHub
Experience leveraging containerization technologies such as Docker or Kubernetes
Passion for driving standards, processes, and consistency
Desired Qualifications
Hands‑on experience using GenAI models and related tools
Experience building agents and creating agentic orchestration
Prior experience with Theme Park, Hospitality, or Entertainment industries
Prior experience in a DBA capacity and with performance tuning
Knowledgeable with Architecture Principles and Design
Experience leveraging Snowflake in an OLTP and OLAP capacity
Multiple years of experience with Python and SQL
Familiarity with data streaming and batch data processing
Knowledgeable knowing how to leverage job scheduling software like Apache Airflow
Involved in driving standard practices around data engineering software development processes
Required Education
Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Systems, Software, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, or comparable field of study and/or equivalent work experience
Preferred Education
Master’s degree
Compensation
The hiring range for this position in Lake Buena Vista, FL is $179,500 to $240,600 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.
Equal Opportunity & EEO Statement
Disney Worldwide Services, Inc. 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.
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, email Candidate.Accommodations@Disney.com with your request. This email address is not for general employment inquiries or correspondence. We will only respond to those requests that are related to the accessibility of the online application system due to a disability.
#J-18808-Ljbffr