Operational Technology Network Engineer, Technical Infrastructure

About the Role & Team:

Walt Disney Imagineering is the creative force that imagines, designs, and brings to life all Disney theme parks, resorts, attractions, and cruise ships worldwide. Working across a spectrum of disciplines that range from creative and conceptual to scientific and technical, Imagineers blend an innovative mixture of storytelling, art, science, and technology to create immersive experiences, memorable destinations, and innovative entertainment for families around the globe.

Nearly every project at Walt Disney Imagineering includes a first-of-its-kind. Innovation is in our DNA, and Imagineers constantly push the boundaries of technology and invent new goals as well as the solutions to achieve them. As Imagineers, one of our greatest rewards is knowing that the experiences and environments we create inspire others. The diversity of expertise at Imagineering makes us uniquely capable of influencing positive change in our communities and around the world. And knowing that we have helped make a difference is incredibly fulfilling and inspiring for all of us.

Technical Infrastructure (TI) within a Disney attraction, ride, show, or other venue is a unified system of data networks, cybersecurity systems, local compute and storage, precision timekeeping, monitoring, logging, virtualization, and other foundational components and functions. Show and ride systems that are built on top of this technical infrastructure include audio, video, projection, lighting, animatronics, show action, special effects, show sequencing, ride control, and show control.

You will report to Executive Show Systems Architecture.

This is a Full-Time role.

What You Will Do:

The Operational Technology Network Engineer, Technical Infrastructure performs design, engineering, and implementation of technical infrastructure (TI) systems, working in a highly collaborative setting with specialty designers and engineers representing each Imagineering discipline. The role spans early project development through high-level and detailed design, production, field installation, and project final delivery and support.

As an Operational Technology Network Engineer, Technical Infrastructure, you will:

• Design and implement attraction and venue networks.

• Work with partner teams to gather requirements and create network solutions.

• Compile network designs and specifications for facility engineering deliverables.

• Coordinate TI equipment and port placement in attraction spaces.

• Collaborate with telecom and IT teams on network connections and wireless coordination.

• Apply Disney and industry-standard software components to projects.

• Develop shared compute, storage, and platform services for each project.

• Integrate networks with ride, show, and facility systems during design and deployment.

• Work with ride control engineering to implement ride-show networks, vehicle networks, and OT wireless systems.

• Update and document standard architectures for attraction TI networks, addressing project-specific exceptions.

Required Qualifications & Skills:

• Expertise with network systems, including physical infrastructure, switching, routing, VLANs, and network security

• Understanding of accepted practices for cabling, cable termination, cable testing, and rack/cabinet layout and cable routing

• Ability to read and edit engineering diagrams

• Comfort with both design-focused and hands-on work

• Strong diagnostic and troubleshooting skills for network and systems issues

• Experience specifying and deploying network and computing hardware

• Proficiency configuring network devices via command line interface and configuration files

• Technical understanding of Ethernet, IP, and ICMP protocols, as well as common higher-level network protocols

• Experience with server and computer system administration, especially Linux-based and/or Unix-like operating systems

• Strong ability to communicate effectively through written documentation and in person

Desired Qualifications & Skills:

• Experience with industrial network and computing devices (PLCs, network I/O, securing industrial networks)

• Experience with optical fiber, including methods of termination, cable routing, and best design/handling practices

• Experience with wireless networks, particularly as used in industrial and/or entertainment applications

• Aptitude with packet dissection methods and tools for troubleshooting

• Knowledge of QoS mechanisms, multicast, PTP, DNS, MPLS, and other advanced networking topics

• Knowledge of and experience deploying system and network operations software tools such as performance analytics, event logging, IDS, endpoint protection, containerization platforms, IPAM/DNS, log analysis, alerting, etc.

• Experience with entertainment technologies and network protocols (DMX, sACN, Dante, AES-67, ST-2110, etc.)

• Knowledge of specific industrial control systems (TwinCAT, RS Logix, etc.)  and industrial network protocols (Modbus, EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, PROFInet, etc.)

• Knowledge of WAN technologies such as NAT, routing protocols, VPN, and SDWAN/overlay networks

• Experience with Cisco network products

• Cybersecurity expertise and experience with firewall products

• Software development experience, especially with real-time systems

• Prior experience in the themed entertainment industry (operations, engineering, construction, etc.)

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Industrial Automation, or Information Technology, or equivalent professional experience, required.

The hiring range for this position in Glendale, CA is $129,300 to $208,700 per year based on a 40-hour work week. The number of hours scheduled per week may vary based on business needs. The base pay 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.