Senior Technical Program Manager

Job Description

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.

The Role:

As a Senior Technical Program Manager in Media Engineering, you will play a pivotal role in managing and delivering complex media projects. You will be responsible for seeing the successful execution of technical initiatives that involve the multiple domains of Media Engineering. Your leadership, technical expertise, and strategic vision will be essential in achieving our goals. You will work with dedicated Team TPMs to ensure that the overall success of the program for Media Engineering. In addition to overseeing the planning & execution of initiatives, it's also your responsibility to provide visibility and reporting to senior stakeholders and enterprise-level program managers. The video streaming industry is constantly evolving, so it's imperative to be able to work in a fast-paced environment, where the abilities to pivot and deliver despite ambiguity are key.

What You'll Do:

Lead and Manage Projects from Start to Finish:
• Oversee large-scale media engineering programs from planning through execution.
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, timelines, and risk management strategies.
• Ensure projects meet deadlines, scope, and budget while maintaining high quality.

Collaborate Across Teams:
• Work closely with engineering, product management, design, and other cross-functional teams to define project goals and deliverables.
• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders to ensure seamless integration and execution of projects.
• Act as the primary liaison between teams within Media Engineering and the neighboring organizations, ensuring that all parties are aligned and working towards common objectives.
• Coordinate with multiple departments to gather requirements, prioritize tasks, and manage dependencies.
• Leverage your ability to translate technical requirements into actionable plans, fostering a unified approach to problem-solving.
• Provide regular status updates and conduct reviews to ensure alignment and transparency to a diverse audience including Leadership.
• Drive cross-functional initiatives, encouraging innovation and collaboration to deliver top-notch media solutions.

Utilize Technical Expertise:
• Apply your technical knowledge to guide project teams through challenges and decision-making processes.
• Implement best practices in software development, system architecture, and quality assurance.
• Stay current with emerging technologies and industry trends to continuously enhance our media engineering capabilities.

Focus on the Customer:
• Advocate for the customer experience in all program decisions, ensuring video playback, artwork, and metadata solutions meet the highest standards.
• Analyze customer feedback and performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and innovation.

Promote Operational Excellence:
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track program success and drive continuous improvement.
• Enhance operational processes to improve efficiency, scalability, and agility within the program management function.
• Foster a culture of operational excellence and accountability within the team.

What We're Looking For:
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in technical program management or a similar role.
• Proven track record of delivering large-scale, complex projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong technical background with experience in media engineering, video playback technologies, or related domains.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Passion for innovation and a customer-centric mindset.

Bonus Points:
• Extensive experience as a Scrum Master, with a deep understanding of Agile principles and practices.
• Certified Scrum Master (CSM) or similar Agile certification.
• Experience in the streaming media industry.
• Familiarity with Agile tools (e.g., Jira, Trello).
• Knowledge of cloud computing and large-scale distributed systems.

The hiring range for this position in Santa Monica, CA is $124,000.00 to $166,200.00 per year and in Seattle, WA is $129,900.00 to $174,100.00 per year and in New York, NY is $129,900.00 to $174,100.00 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.

About Disney Entertainment & ESPN Technology:

Disney Entertainment and ESPN Technology (DE&E Technology) provides the technological backbone and product development for Disney's two media business units, while helping to keep the company at the vanguard of innovation – enabling the Company to continuously leverage technology to enhance storytelling and creativity, while delivering scalability, flexibility, and efficiency for its businesses.

This position is with Disney Streaming Technology LLC, which is part of a business we call Disney Entertainment & ESPN Technology.

Disney Streaming Technology LLC 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.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-gxm611-3-17-78-184-42 in your application.