Staff Software Engineer

This is not a remote role. You must be local or open to relocation. Must have hands-on experience integrating AI/ML tools, LLMs, or decision engines into workflow-driven systems About Us Disney has created one of the most powerful brands by bringing memorable, life-changing storytelling to the world. The foundation of this creativity starts with The Walt Disney Studios. As a member of the Studio Technology Team, you will be responsible for the successful delivery of products and software solutions supporting our production, content operations and marketing teams. Job Description We are seeking a Staff Software Engineer to lead the development of intelligent, scalable systems within the Studio Digital Supply Chain. This role is central to building the next generation of media workflows that combine deterministic orchestration with AI/ML-driven, agentic behaviors. You will architect cloud-native, event-driven services that enable dynamic decision-making, automation, and human-in-the-loop processes. Ideal candidates bring deep experience in distributed systems and cloud platforms, along with a strong interest or background in building systems that integrate machine learning, large language models, or rules-based engines for adaptive workflows. Responsibilities Design AI-Augmented Workflows: • Lead the development of systems that exhibit agentic behavior using AI/ML technologies. • Integrate tools such as large language models (LLMs), decision engines, and semantic search. • Enable intelligent, adaptive processing within complex workflow environments. Workflow Orchestration & Automation: • Create deterministic workflows using state machines or rules engines. • Design hybrid patterns that blend structured logic with adaptive capabilities. • Enable flexible execution of both predictable and dynamic processes. Architecture & Scalability: • Build modular, distributed system architectures. • Optimize for high-throughput, long-running, and stateful tasks. • Support human-in-the-loop processing in complex studio workflows. Event-Driven Development: • Develop services that use event-driven communication patterns. • Leverage Kafka, EventBridge, or SNS/SQS for messaging and orchestration. • Ensure resilience and loose coupling between distributed components. API & Microservices Engineering: • Build performant APIs and microservices in Java, Python, or Node.js. • Design for cloud-native environments and deployment flexibility. • Emphasize reliability, maintainability, and clear service boundaries. Cross-Functional Collaboration: • Collaborate with product, program, and ML stakeholders. • Translate business and creative requirements into scalable systems. • Align diverse teams around shared architecture and delivery goals. Mentorship & Best Practices: • Guide engineers through architecture and code reviews. • Provide mentorship on system design and software quality. • Foster innovation and technical excellence across the team. Requirements Must have hands-on experience integrating AI/ML tools, LLMs, or decision engines into workflow-driven systems • Bachelor's or master's degree in a Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field. • Must have7+ years of experience building distributed, cloud-native backend systems • Must have hands-on experience integrating AI/ML tools, LLMs, or decision engines into workflow-driven systems • Strong foundation in cloud platforms (especially AWS), event-driven architecture, and infrastructure automation • Must have strongproficiency in Java, Python, or Node.js • Must have deep knowledge of containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), CI/CD pipelines, and system observability • Exceptional communication and technical leadership skills Preferred • Prior experience in Media or Entertainment, particularly studio/post-production workflows • Experience building shared platforms or multi-tenant environments • Hands-on experience with machine learning systems, pipelines, or model integration in production environments • Familiarity with Agile and DevOps methodologies At Disney, storytelling is powered with technology. As a key contributor in Studio Technology, you’ll help revolutionize the way our stories are delivered by building the backbone of our digital content operations. Join us to shape the systems and workflows that enable storytelling at global scale. #DISNEYTECH The hiring range for this position in Glendale, CA is $155,700 to $208,700 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.