About the Role & Team

Walt Disney Imagineering makes the impossible possible, by combining innovation and storytelling to bring Disney stories, characters and worlds to life. Imagineering is the master planning, creative development, design, engineering, production, project management, and research and development arm of The Walt Disney Company. Its talented corps of Imagineers is responsible for the creation - from concept initiation through installation - of all Disney Resorts, theme parks and attractions, real estate developments, regional entertainment venues, and new media projects. Disney Imagineers are uniquely talented individuals who bring together the best aspects of creativity, innovation, and passion. 

At Imagineering Research and Development, our mission is to use technology to build new experiences for our Guests and develop innovative tools for Imagineers and the Cast Members who power our parks. R&D is a team of engineers, designers, artists, and scientists who share a passion for solving hard problems and building ground-breaking experiences.  You will use your unique combination of skills to bring teams together around a vision and determine how to make them real.  Your strong technical, organizational, and interpersonal skills remove roadblocks for the team to build prototypes that will inform and inspire.

The Senior R&D Technical Project Manager will report to the Director of Technical Project Management. 

This role is full-time. 

What You Will Do

Translate Vision into Execution

• Partner with project lead(s) to break down project vision into specific scopes, deliverables, tasks, schedules, and budgets
• Develop and continuously refine plans for proof-of-concept mockups balancing time, budget, scope, and evolving objectives
• Navigate ambiguity and shifting priorities to maintain momentum and clarity
• Tailor and deliver communications, updates, and presentations to diverse audiences, including team members, vendors, and leadership

Drive Prototype Development and Delivery

• Project manage multiple projects simultaneously, driving prioritization, execution, and communication while maintaining deadlines and quality
• Own project schedules, task lists and financials, managing budgets across resources, vendors, materials, software, and playtesting
• Plan and execute playtests and events, capturing insights and incorporating feedback into future iterations

Apply Technical Judgment and Manage Risk

• Engage in discussions on technical options, solutions, and feasibility assessments
• Identify and assess technical risks and project issues, escalating to leadership as needed to maintain project health and momentum

Lead Cross-Functional Teams

• Build and manage matrixed teams across creative and technical disciplines, internal studios, and partners to deliver project scope
• Foster a collaborative team environment where individuals feel empowered to contribute their best work
• Bridge disciplines by translating across technical and creative perspectives to align teams and accelerate progress
• Source and manage vendor relationships, including contracting, execution, and invoicing

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Minimum 5 years of experience in robotics, aerospace, artificial intelligence, or embedded systems technologies industries. Minimum of 3 years of project management experience, driving complex technical projects with multiple teams.

• Strong technical background, with the ability to quickly assess and understand new technologies and their applications.

• Experienced in driving clarity through ambiguous concept development and necessary pivots to address a changing landscape

• Experience managing and advancing complex multi-disciplinary projects combining creative and technology elements with excellent attention to detail in a rapidly changing environment.

• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to see the “big picture” while tracking multiple teams, workstreams, deliverables, and milestones.

• Ability to drive the transformation of high-level scope/vision into actionable plans and move it forward with regular check-ins.

• Creation of production deliverables, including schedules, budgets, scope documents, and presentations.

• Strong familiarity with software suites that are used for roadmap development, schedules, task tracking, and budget management, e.g., Excel, Project, Jira, Confluence, GitLab, etc.

• Excellent cross-functional collaborator with the ability to build strong partnerships of trust across diverse teams and functions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Startup / entrepreneurial experience

• Experience working with early development teams and prototype products

• Experience with advanced artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, computer vision, and/or sensor fusion

Education

• Bachelors Degree in Software Engineering, ML, Architecture or related field

Additional Information:

• Disney offers a rewards package to help you live your best life. This includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities, and special extras that only Disney can provide. Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits. 

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The hiring range for this position in Glendale, CA is $141,900 - $190,300 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.