Director, Machine Learning Engineering

The Walt Disney Company is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise with three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences.
$202,900 - $297,900
Machine Learning
Principal Software Engineer
In-Person
5,000+ Employees
12+ years of experience
AI · Enterprise SaaS · Entertainment

Description For Director, Machine Learning Engineering

The Machine Learning Engineering (MLE) team at Disney helps Data Scientists build models at scale for Personalization, Forecasting, Marketing, Content and Audience Segmentation, Payments Optimization, and Fraud prevention. As the Director of MLE, you'll lead a team of ML Managers and Engineers supporting sophisticated platforms and infrastructure across Disney's streaming services. This role combines technical leadership with strategic business alignment, requiring both deep ML expertise and strong leadership capabilities.

You'll be responsible for building and managing high-performing teams while collaborating with data scientists to improve productivity through self-serve tooling and direct support. The position involves staying current with AI/ML trends, recommending new technologies, and ensuring alignment between technical initiatives and business objectives. You'll work closely with senior leadership and various departments to drive innovation while maintaining operational excellence.

The role offers an opportunity to impact millions of consumers directly through Disney's streaming platforms, with projects that directly tie to revenue. You'll be working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, solving complex challenges at scale. The position requires both technical depth and leadership skills, as you'll be overseeing multiple sophisticated platforms while building relationships across the organization.

This is an ideal role for someone who combines strong technical background in ML/AI with proven leadership experience, offering the chance to shape the future of entertainment technology at one of the world's most renowned media companies. The position comes with competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, reflecting the senior nature of the role and its strategic importance to Disney's digital future.

Last updated 3 days ago

Responsibilities For Director, Machine Learning Engineering

  • Build and lead a team of high performing ML Managers and Engineers
  • Collaborate with data scientists to build internal infrastructure and services
  • Stay abreast of the latest trends in AI/ML and recommend new technologies
  • Oversee financial planning, test and production environments
  • Guide career management and set operational direction
  • Collaborate with senior leadership to align AI/ML initiatives with business objectives
  • Own outcomes and resolve project delays, conflicts, and performance issues

Requirements For Director, Machine Learning Engineering

Python
Java
Go
  • BS in Computer Science, Software, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, or related field
  • 12+ years of experience leading software engineering teams
  • 5+ years of previous hands-on experience as an engineer
  • Experience with Hadoop, Spark and related big data tools
  • Experience deploying and optimizing AI/ML models and frameworks at scale
  • Experience managing multiple hosting environments including public and private cloud solutions
  • Experience with data visualization, metrics, and data analysis
  • Excellent written and verbal communications skills

Benefits For Director, Machine Learning Engineering

Medical Insurance
  • Medical benefits
  • Bonus opportunities
  • Long-term incentives
  • Financial benefits

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