Sr Manager, Data Engineering
The Walt Disney Company · Lake Buena Vista, FL
- On site
- Full-time
- $240,600 / year
- Lake Buena Vista, FL
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Job highlights
- Lead data acquisition and processing for advanced analytics.
- Manage team developing GenAI-powered data solutions.
- Develop strategic roadmaps and remove roadblocks.
- Oversee hiring, career growth, and performance.
- Shape business decisions across The Walt Disney Company.
About the role
About The Role
The Disney Decision Science and Integration (DDSI) team leverages advanced technologies, data analytics, and scientific approaches such as optimization and statistical modeling to build innovative tools that shape business decisions across The Walt Disney Company. We support Disney Entertainment (ABC, The Walt Disney Studios, Disney+, Hulu), ESPN, Disney Experiences (Theme Parks, Cruise Line, Consumer Products, DVC), and Corporate Finance with strategic applications that enable data-driven decision-making.What You Will Do
The Data Engineering team leads the acquisition and processing of all data needed for projects across DDSI. The Senior Manager, Data Engineering role is responsible for managing a team that does research, development, and delivery related to advanced analytic data solutions, leveraging GenAI. The team is involved in various product development activities ranging from data acquisition and validation, designing and implementing ETL/ELT data pipelines, designing databases and knowledge graphs, integration with enterprise data platforms, and ad-hoc analytics. The Senior Manager role is also responsible for helping to drive the DDSI Data Engineering organization forward with generative AI adoption and advanced tools, as well as updated processes. The team should leverage generative AI development tools to work efficiently, and design, build, and operate intelligent agentic systems that power large-scale, data intensive applications.This role will partner with business and technology leaders to understand the business scope and data from across the Disney company in order to create a strategic roadmap for development. Other responsibilities include estimating, managing work assignments across the team, ensuring consistency of design patterns/principles across the portfolio of projects, and working to remove technical, business and organizational roadblocks for the team. The Senior Manager is also responsible for hiring decisions, establishing career goals for cast, providing performance evaluations, ensuring the team is staffed properly and has the right skills necessary for the job.
The ideal candidate has a diverse background not only in Data Engineering, but also multiple technology areas which might include Generative AI, Architecture, Data Warehousing, Application Development, Networking and/or Infrastructure.
Required Qualifications & Skills
- 10+ years experience in technology roles, preferably in data engineering, software engineering, and/or architecture
- 3+ years prior experience in a technology management capacity
- Ability to identify, evaluate, and implement new technology platforms, tools and solutions to meet upcoming business needs
- Experience leveraging generative AI tools for efficient development and deployment of data solutions
- Understanding of Generative AI tools and concepts such as LLMs, RAG, Knowledge Graphs and Agents
- Proven experience defining and leading strategic initiatives
- Ability to bridge the business and technical world, and demonstrate business and domain knowledge
- Experience establishing and leading large teams
- Ability to drive comprehensive solutions from scoping through implementation, meet deadlines, and balance multiple priorities
- Prior focus on designing and developing reusable tools to benefit projects across the department
- Demonstrated ability to communicate at all levels and influence up to executives
- Experience managing large data platforms, supporting one or multiple applications
- Experience with both structured and unstructured data
- Experience leading efforts in designing, building and maintaining ETL/ELT data pipelines
- Strong understanding of relational database design and proficiency utilizing tools such as PostgreSQL, Snowflake, Aurora or similar
- Deep understanding in the differences and uses between application databases, data warehouses, and data lakes
- Broad experience across technologies and tools related to data, applications, infrastructure, and architecture
- Experience with modern cloud-based tools, both licensed and open-source, preferably AWS
- Experience managing and deploying code using a source control product such as GitLab/GitHub
- Experience leveraging containerization technologies such as Docker or Kubernetes
- Passion for driving standards, processes, and consistency
Desired Qualifications
- Hands-on experience using GenAI models and related tools
- Experience building agents and creating agentic orchestration
- Prior experience with Theme Park, Hospitality, or Entertainment industries
- Prior experience in a DBA capacity and with performance tuning
- Knowledgeable with Architecture Principles and Design
- Experience leveraging Snowflake in an OLTP and OLAP capacity
- Multiple years of experience with Python and SQL
- Familiarity with data streaming and batch data processing
- Knowledgeable knowing how to leverage job scheduling software like Apache Airflow
- Involved in driving standard practices around data engineering software development processes
Required Education
Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Systems, Software, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, or comparable field of study and/or equivalent work experience.Preferred Education
Master's degree.#DisneyAnalytics
The hiring range for this position in Lake Buena Vista, FL is $179,500 to $240,600 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.
Key skills/competency
- Data Engineering
- Generative AI
- ETL/ELT Pipelines
- Database Design
- Cloud Platforms (AWS)
- Team Management
- Strategic Initiatives
- Data Acquisition
- Data Warehousing
- LLMs
Skills & topics
- Senior Manager Data Engineering
- Data Engineering
- Generative AI
- GenAI
- LLMs
- RAG
- Knowledge Graphs
- Agents
- ETL
- ELT
- Data Pipelines
- Data Warehousing
- Database Design
- AWS
- Snowflake
- PostgreSQL
- Aurora
- Cloud Computing
- Team Management
- Technical Leadership
- Strategic Initiatives
- Python
- SQL
- Docker
- Kubernetes
- Hiring Manager
- Disney Entertainment
- Disney Experiences
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight data engineering, GenAI, and leadership experience, using keywords from the job description like 'ETL/ELT', 'Snowflake', 'AWS', and 'Generative AI'.
- Showcase your leadership: Quantify your experience managing teams, driving strategic initiatives, and influencing stakeholders, including executives.
- Demonstrate technical breadth: Emphasize your understanding of diverse technologies, including Generative AI, data warehousing, architecture, and cloud platforms.
- Prepare for behavioral questions: Be ready to discuss how you handle challenges, bridge business and technical gaps, and drive innovation.
- Research Disney's culture: Understand their commitment to innovation and data-driven decision-making, and how your skills align with their mission.
Technical preparation
Master Generative AI tools and concepts (LLMs, RAG, Agents).,Deepen expertise in ETL/ELT pipeline design and implementation.,Strengthen cloud skills, particularly with AWS services.,Practice database design and management (SQL, Snowflake).
Behavioral questions
Describe a strategic initiative you led and its impact.,How do you bridge business needs with technical solutions?,Share an experience managing and developing a team.,How do you handle competing priorities and technical roadblocks?
Frequently asked questions
- What specific Generative AI tools and concepts are most relevant for this Senior Manager, Data Engineering role at The Walt Disney Company?
- For this Senior Manager, Data Engineering position at The Walt Disney Company, a strong understanding of Generative AI tools and concepts such as Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Knowledge Graphs, and Agents is crucial. The role involves leveraging these technologies for efficient development and deployment of data solutions, including designing, building, and operating intelligent agentic systems. Familiarity with GenAI models and related tools, as well as experience building agents and creating agentic orchestration, are highly desired.
- What kind of experience is expected for managing data engineering teams at The Walt Disney Company?
- The Walt Disney Company expects at least 3 years of prior experience in a technology management capacity for this Senior Manager, Data Engineering role. This includes experience establishing and leading large teams, hiring decisions, setting career goals, providing performance evaluations, and ensuring proper team staffing with the right skills. A strong track record in managing large data platforms and leading efforts in designing, building, and maintaining ETL/ELT data pipelines is also essential.
- How important is cloud experience for the Senior Manager, Data Engineering position at The Walt Disney Company?
- Cloud experience is highly important for this Senior Manager, Data Engineering position at The Walt Disney Company. The role requires experience with modern cloud-based tools, both licensed and open-source, with a preference for AWS. This includes managing and deploying code using source control products like GitLab/GitHub and leveraging containerization technologies such as Docker or Kubernetes.
- What are the key data platforms and technologies mentioned for this role at The Walt Disney Company?
- Key data platforms and technologies for this Senior Manager, Data Engineering role at The Walt Disney Company include experience with large data platforms, ETL/ELT data pipelines, relational database design, and tools like PostgreSQL, Snowflake, and Aurora. A deep understanding of application databases, data warehouses, and data lakes is also critical. Experience with modern cloud-based tools, preferably AWS, and containerization technologies like Docker or Kubernetes are also specified.
- What is the expected educational background for a Senior Manager, Data Engineering at The Walt Disney Company?
- The Walt Disney Company requires a Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Systems, Software, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, or a comparable field of study and/or equivalent work experience for this Senior Manager, Data Engineering position. A Master's degree is considered preferred education.