Disney Entertainment & ESPN Technology
On any given day at Disney Entertainment & ESPN Technology, we’re reimagining ways to create magical viewing experiences for the world’s most beloved stories while also transforming Disney’s media business for the future. Whether that’s evolving our streaming and digital products in new and immersive ways, powering worldwide advertising and distribution to maximize flexibility and efficiency, or delivering Disney’s unmatched entertainment and sports content, every day is a moment to make a difference to partners and to hundreds of millions of people around the world.
A few reasons why we think you’d love working for Disney Entertainment & ESPN Technology
• Building the future of Disney’s media business: DE&E Technologists are designing and building the infrastructure that will power Disney’s media, advertising, and distribution businesses for years to come.
• Reach & Scale: The products and platforms this group builds and operates delight millions of consumers every minute of every day – from Disney+ and Hulu, to ABC News and Entertainment, to ESPN and ESPN+, and much more.
• Innovation: We develop and execute groundbreaking products and techniques that shape industry norms and enhance how audiences experience sports, entertainment & news.
Job Summary:
As a Technical Project Manager II in Media Engineering, you’ll play a crucial role in supporting the delivery of advanced media solutions. You will assist in managing projects that enhance our streaming services, combining your organizational skills, technical knowledge, and collaborative spirit to contribute to exceptional customer experiences. This role is perfect for someone passionate about technology and eager to grow in the media industry while learning and developing Scrum Master skills.
Responsibilities and Duties of the Role:
Support Project Management:
• Assist in managing media engineering programs from planning through execution.
• Help develop and maintain detailed project plans, timelines, and risk management strategies.
• Ensure projects are on track to meet deadlines, scope, and budget.
Collaborate with Scrum Teams:
• Work closely with engineering, product management, design, and other cross-functional teams to support project goals and deliverables.
• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders.
• Provide regular status updates and assist in conducting reviews to ensure alignment and transparency.
Focus on the Customer:
• Advocate for the customer experience in all program decisions, ensuring video playback, artwork, and metadata solutions meet high standards.
• Analyze customer feedback and performance metrics to help identify areas for improvement and innovation.
• Coordinate handoff of mature R&D work to product or operational teams through technical meetings and other collaboration activities.
Promote Operational Excellence:
• Assist in establishing and monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) to track program success.
• Support the enhancement of operational processes to improve efficiency, scalability, and agility within the program management function.
• Foster a culture of operational excellence and accountability within the team.
Learn Scrum Master Responsibilities:
• Participate in and support all Scrum ceremonies (Daily Standups, Sprint Planning, Sprint Reviews, and Retrospectives).
• Help remove impediments and blockers that may impact the team’s productivity and progress.
• Learn to coach and guide the team on Agile principles and Scrum practices to ensure effective delivery.
• Encourage a culture of continuous improvement within the team by observing and adopting best practices.
• Track and report on team metrics and performance, using Agile tools (e.g., Jira, Trello).
Utilize Agile Methodologies:
• Work within Agile frameworks, helping to plan sprints, run scrum meetings, and track progress using Agile tools.
• Apply your technical knowledge to support project teams through challenges and decision-making processes.
• Help implement best practices in software development, system architecture, and quality assurance
• Update status of activities within the R&D portfolio based on an internal innovation framework.
Other:
• Manage work scope for at least two teams/squads composed of about 6 staff members each.
• Attend scrum meetings to obtain and report on status of teams’ projects.
Basic Qualifications:
• 3+ years of experience in technical program management or a similar role.
• Basic understanding of project management principles and practices.
• Experience working with Scrum teams and Agile methodologies.
• Strong technical background in media engineering, video playback technologies, or related domains.
• Knowledge about the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) preferably involving either Python, Java, or Kotlin in order to understand team assignments and development dependencies.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and organizational skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Passion for innovation and a customer-centric mindset.
• Willingness to work across multiple time zones both US and International (i.e. >6 hour time difference).
Preferred Qualifications:
• Interest in pursuing Scrum Master certification (e.g., CSM) or similar Agile certification.
• Experience in the streaming media industry.
• Familiarity with Agile tools (e.g., Jira, Trello).
• Experience in managing Research and Development (R&D) projects including early-stage technologies with uncertain outcomes.
• Capability to make and assist in creating long-term (i.e. beyond currently known needs) technology roadmaps based on multiple stakeholders and strategic business objectives.
Required Education
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
#DISNEYTECH
The hiring range for this position in Santa Monica, CA is $102,500 to $137,500 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.
Tagged as: Project manager