Lead Software Engineer-AI Licensing & Publishing Systems

At Disney Experiences Technology, our team creates world-class immersive digital experiences for the Company’s premier vacation brands including Disney’s Parks & Resorts worldwide, Disney Cruise Line, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, and Disney Vacation Club.

The Disney Experiences Technology team is responsible for the end-to-end digital and physical Guest experience for all technology & digital-led initiatives across the Attractions & Entertainment, Food & Beverage, Resorts & Transportation, and Merchandise lines of business as well as other initiatives including the MyDisneyExperience app and Hey, Disney!

“We Power the Magic!” That’s our motto at Disney Experiences (DX) Technology & Digital. Our team creates world-class immersive digital experiences for Disney’s Consumer Products Business.

This role sits within the Technology & Digital organization for Disney Experiences and collaborates closely with cross-functional teams across the company. The Lead Software Engineer will report to the Manager, App Development.

About the Role & Team

We are seeking a visionary Lead Software Engineer to drive the development of scalable, intelligent systems that support the operation of the Licensing & Publishing business using AI-driven decision making. This role will be instrumental in shaping the architecture and delivery of next-generation platforms that power licensing and book publishing workflows and predictive analytics.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of software solutions for Licensing & Publishing systems and AI-powered applications.
• Architect and implement scalable services that integrate with internal and third-party platforms.
• Collaborate with product, finance, and data science teams to define system requirements and deliver intelligent automation.
• Apply machine learning and AI techniques to optimize product approval workflows, forecasting, and compliance monitoring.
• Own the full software development lifecycle, including analysis, design, coding, testing, debugging, and documentation.
• Mentor junior engineers and foster a culture of innovation, inclusion, and technical excellence.
• Stay current with emerging technologies in AI, financial systems, and cloud-native development to inform strategic decisions.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• 7+ years of software engineering experience, including leadership of complex projects.
• Proven experience with financial systems, licensing workflows, or royalty management platforms.
• Hands-on expertise in AI/ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn) and data pipelines.
• Strong background in computer vision, particularly in color science and image object localization; familiarity with photography principles a plus.
• Excellent programming skills in languages such as Java, Python, Go, Rust, C#.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and container orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes).
• Agile development experience and familiarity with CI/CD pipelines.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with licensing systems in media, entertainment, or digital content industries.
• Experience with product lifecycle management systems.
• Familiarity with financial compliance standards and audit processes.
• Background in data engineering or applied AI in enterprise environments.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

Master’s degree or certifications in AI, Data Science, or Financial Technology is a plus.

#DISNEYTECH

The hiring range for this position in Glendale California is $150,000-$180,000 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.