Lead Product Software Engineer

Lead Product Software Engineer

Job Summary

As a Lead Software Engineer on the Core Web Platform team, you will architect and deliver foundational frontend solutions that power Disney's portfolio of consumer-facing web properties, including ESPN, ABC News, National Geographic, and Marvel. You will drive technical direction for shared web frameworks, components, and tooling used across multiple brands and engineering teams, balancing platform consistency with brand-specific needs. You will mentor engineers, influence cross-team technical decisions, and ensure our platform delivers exceptional performance, accessibility, and developer experience at scale.

If you:

• Demonstrate determination in finding solutions to complex, cross-cutting technical challenges

• Have the curiosity to research and evaluate new web technologies and platform patterns

• Employ positive thinking and work constructively in a diverse, distributed team setting

• Are passionate about building platforms that multiply the impact of other engineers

• Value learning and being exposed to new experiences across brands and product domains

then working at Disney is unlike anything else. We have the latest technology, game-changing ideas, and world-class talent. Come help us build the core web foundation that powers how audiences connect with our brands across the digital landscape.

Responsibilities and Duties of the Role:

• Design, build, and maintain shared frontend platform capabilities—including reusable components, frameworks, build tooling, and design system integrations—consumed by engineering teams across ESPN, ABC News, NatGeo, Marvel, and other Disney web properties.

• Define technical architecture, engineering standards, and best practices for multi-brand web development; lead design reviews, RFCs, and technical decision-making for platform initiatives.

• Research and evaluate emerging web technologies; prototype and drive adoption of improvements to performance, accessibility, SEO, and developer experience.

• Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineers through code review, pairing, and knowledge sharing; help raise the bar for frontend engineering quality across the organization.

• Partner with product engineering teams across brands to understand requirements, prioritize platform roadmap investments, and deliver scalable solutions that balance shared needs with brand-specific customization.

Basic Qualifications

• Proven mastery of frontend web development technologies and principles
• Minimum 7+ years of relevant industry experience with demonstrated technical leadership
• Comprehensive expertise in JavaScript/TypeScript and modern frontend frameworks (React strongly preferred)
• Experience building reusable platform libraries, design systems, or shared frontend infrastructure at scale
• Strong understanding of web performance, accessibility (WCAG), SEO, and responsive design
• Experience with build tooling and CI/CD pipelines (Webpack, Rollup, Vite, or similar)
• Demonstrated ability to influence technical direction across multiple teams or codebases
• Strong communication skills and attention to detail; driven and self-motivated

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting multiple distinct brands or product lines from a shared platform
• Experience with server-side rendering, edge delivery, and modern web application architecture (Node.js)
• Familiarity with CSS architecture, design tokens, and component-driven design systems
• Experience with testing strategies for platform code (unit, integration, visual regression)
• Experience working in large monorepo or multi-repository environments
• Prior experience in media, entertainment, sports, or news digital products
• Experience using AI-assisted development tools (e.g., Cursor, Claude, Kiro) to improve engineering velocity, code quality, and platform productivity
• Familiarity with AI-driven development workflows - prompt engineering, agent-assisted coding, and integrating AI tooling into team engineering practices

Experience with:

• JavaScript, TypeScript, React, HTML/CSS
• Node.js and server-side web technologies
• Build tooling (Webpack, Rollup, Vite) and CSS preprocessors
• Design systems, component libraries, and design tokens
• Web performance, accessibility, and SEO optimization
• Git, CI/CD, and automated testing
• AI-assisted development tools (Cursor, Claude, Kiro) and AI-driven software development practices

Required Education

• BS in Computer Science or related technical discipline, or equivalent practical experience

Disclaimer

PAY TRANSPARENCY

The hiring range for this position in Glendale, CA and Bristol, CT is $158,100.00 -$211,900.00 per year and in New York, NY is 158,100.00-$211,900.00 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.

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

To learn more about Disney's guidelines on the use of AI for candidates, click here. (opens in new window)

Disney Entertainment & Sports LLC is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. 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.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION FOR EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS

The Walt Disney Company and its Affiliated Companies are Equal Employment Opportunity employers and welcome all job seekers including individuals with disabilities and veterans