Lead Technical Program Mgr

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 Lead Technical Program Manager supporting Engineering Services, you will play a pivotal role in managing and delivering complex media infrastructure projects.

Responsibilities and Duties of the Role:

Lead and Manage Projects:

• 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 different teams, 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.
• 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.

Required Education, Experience/Skills/Training:

Basic Qualifications 

What We’re Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 7+ 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.
• Extensive experience as a Scrum Master, with a deep understanding of Agile principles and practices.
• 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.

Preferred Experience

• Large scale physical facility build-out (new construction of broadcast or datacenter facilities, hardware refresh) 
• Critical cross-organizational strategic initiatives 
• Hardware procurement
• Inter-facility connectivity