Lead Software Engineer - Python Backend

Technology is at the heart of Disney’s past, present, and future. Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology is a global organization of engineers, product developers, designers, technologists, data scientists, and more – all working to build and advance the technological backbone for Disney’s media business globally.

The team marries technology with creativity to build world-class products, enhance storytelling, and drive velocity, innovation, and scalability for our businesses. We are Storytellers and Innovators. Creators and Builders. Entertainers and Engineers. We work with every part of The Walt Disney Company’s media portfolio to advance the technological foundation and consumer media touch points serving millions of people around the world. 

Here are a few reasons why we think you’d love working here:

• Building the future of Disney’s media: Our Technologists are designing and building the products and platforms that will power our media, advertising, and distribution businesses for years to come.

• Reach, Scale & Impact: More than ever, Disney’s technology and products serve as a signature doorway for fans' connections with the company’s brands and stories. Disney+. Hulu. ESPN. ABC. ABC News…and many more. These products and brands – and the unmatched stories, storytellers, and events they carry – matter to millions of people globally. 

• Innovation: We develop and implement groundbreaking products and techniques that shape industry norms and solve complex and distinctive technical problems.

Ad Platforms is responsible for Disney’s industry-leading ad technology and products – driving advertising performance, innovation, and value in Disney’s sports, news, and entertainment content, across all media platforms.

Job Summary:

As a Lead Software Engineer, you will be assuming a pivotal role within our team, helping shape the future of

our foundational services within the Quote-to-Cash space. You will be responsible for guiding the technical direction of our team and ensuring the delivery of high-quality solutions that meet the needs of our user base.

The ideal candidate should be proficient in Python, Django and/or FastAPI, SQL, Terraform, and have experience with JavaScript. They must combine engineering skills with strong communication skills to work with stakeholders to turn business requirements into efficient, scalable features.

While The Walt Disney Company is a large company, ideally, we’d like if you have some previous experience in a U.S. startup environment and be comfortable performing multiple roles. We strive to get things done quickly, at high quality, and we are committed to the agile methodology. Our work is guided by lean principles (looking at value and looking for waste; not doing anything ‘for the sake of doing it’).

We’re looking for a passionate technical expert who wants to come here to do their very best work and make their mark, adding their chapter to the long and storied history of The Walt Disney Company. Someone who holds themselves and their team accountable in a professional, collaborative manner. A collaborative technologist who seeks to bring the best out in themselves and their team. Someone who can provide guidance, a fresh perspective, and innovative insight into our initiatives.

Responsibilities and Duties of the Role:

• Lead full-cycle software development—from requirements to deployment, maintenance, and support

• Collaborate in agile, cross-functional teams to build scalable, high-quality software

• Design and deploy microservices with strong focus on inter-service communication and data consistency

• Apply advanced expertise in Django/FastAPI, Python, SQL/NoSQL, serverless architecture, and secure API design

• Guide engineers through mentorship, technical reviews, and architectural decisions

• Drive engineering best practices, continuous improvement, and operational tooling enhancements

• Communicate project status and risks to leadership while fostering a culture of support and innovation

• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate requirements into functional solutions

• Troubleshoot complex issues and maintain clear technical documentation

Required Experience:  

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical field

• 7+ years of experience in enterprise web application development using modern frameworks

• Strong communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills

• Deep expertise in Python, Django/FastAPI, and core libraries (e.g., django-ninja-extra, pydantic, pytest, ruff, sphinx)

• Proficient in Postgres, SQL/NoSQL databases, and serverless architecture

• Experienced with Kafka, Kinesis, Redis, and building scalable, highly available services

• Skilled in AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD, and infrastructure tools like Terraform, Spinnaker, IAM, ALB

• Familiar with observability tools such as DataDog

• Committed to quality engineering and testable code practices

• Experienced in Agile/Lean teams, adaptable to evolving technologies and requirements

• Aligns technical decisions with business goals and values craftsmanship in software development

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:  

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering or related technical discipline is highly desirable.

• Experience creating performant User Interfaces leveraging HTML/CSS/JS and React or other frameworks.

• Experience with AI (GenAI, LangChain, RAG, Machine Learning)

• Previous work experience in digital advertising

• Experience working with vendor teams to deliver high quality results

• Strong curiosity about how Disney delivers the Magic and a desire to be a part of it

#DISNEYTECH

The hiring range for this position in Seattle, Washington and New York, NY is $159,500 to $213,900 per year. Glendale, CA is $152,200 to $204,100 per year, San Francisco, CA is $166,800 to $223,600 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.