Sr. Software Engineer - Media, Playback & Review Applications

Job ID 10095063 Location Burbank, California, United States Business Walt Disney Animation Studios Date posted Jul. 29, 2024

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"I didn't think it was possible that something I did for fun - telling sports stories through stats - could become my job until I came here."

Ana, Sr. Researcher, ESPN

Job Summary:

At Walt Disney Animation Studios we have a deep commitment to the philosophy that creativity inspires technology, and technology inspires creativity. Engineers in our Production Technology department are charged with developing and implementing new algorithms to solve unique and challenging problems for all of our animated content. We do this working alongside a user base that shares a collaborative environment with us and uses the code we develop daily.

We are looking for an engineer to join our Production Technology team, developing user-facing tools and back-end solutions for media management and video playback applications.

In this role, you will partner with artists, production and technology leadership, technical directors, cross-team software engineers, and other technologists and researchers across the Walt Disney Studios. You will be responsible for supporting and growing our suite of playback and review tools, which are critical to our creative process. This is a highly collaborative role as you will be interfacing directly with your user base, and implementing groundbreaking features that will elevate the way we review and create animated content.

Projects Include
● Work directly with our filmmakers to design and provide world class media and review software applications.
● Collaborate with other Disney Technology teams on distributed systems that bridge and contextualize data across all facets of production.
● Creating novel solutions for real-time reviews that feature in-person and remote collaborators.
● Work with our Meander tool, a stylized drawing tool that allows artists to express their intent with unparalleled speed and accuracy

What does it mean to be a developer at Walt Disney Animation Studios?
● Our engineers get the opportunity to work on the full stack of our tools, from developing the underlying algorithms through building intuitive artist-friendly interfaces.
● Work hand in hand with artists and a team of cross-site developers to make the tools we need for the incredibly complex characters/environments featured in our content.
● Develop on top of a highly performant, extendable in-house application framework.

● Develop new artist-centric interaction models using the latest hardware and
technologies.

You will succeed in this role if you have
● The ability to produce readable and testable code, with excellent problem solving, troubleshooting, and debugging skills
● Ability to collaborate with team members across different disciplines
● You care deeply about craftsmanship in your software, and can work backwards from the customer experience.
● Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Key Qualifications
● 5+ years designing and developing complex user-facing software, ideally in a studio environment
● Proficiency in Python and/or C++
● Experience with distributed systems, their development, operations and observability
● Proficiency developing back-end data management solutions utilizing SQL and/or NoSQL databases

Required Education
● BS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience

Bonus Qualifications
● An understanding of Studio production processes and workflows used in filmmaking
● Proficiency developing MacOS / iOS applications with Swift
● Experience building clean interfaces using modern UI development toolkits
● Familiarity with video compression standards such as ProResHQ, H.264, HEVC, etc.
● Familiarity with OpenColorIO, OpenImageIO, and/or OpenTimelineIO
● MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience

The hiring range for this position in California is $136,100.00-$182,400.00 per year based on a 40 hour work week. The amount of hours scheduled per week may vary based on business needs. 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.

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About Walt Disney Animation Studios:

Combining masterful artistry and storytelling with groundbreaking technology, Walt Disney Animation Studios is a filmmaker-driven animation studio responsible for creating some of the most beloved films ever made. Disney Animation continues to build on its rich legacy of innovation and creativity, from the first fully-animated feature film, 1937's “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” to the upcoming fall 2024 feature, “Moana 2.” Among the studio's timeless creations are “Pinocchio,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “The Jungle Book,” “The Little Mermaid,” “The Lion King,” “Frozen,” “Zootopia,” and “Encanto.”

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with Walt Disney Pictures, which is part of a business we call Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Walt Disney Pictures 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.

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