Senior Gameplay Engineer
Apply Now Apply Later Job ID 10138380 Location Burbank, California, United States Business The Walt Disney Studios Date posted Dec. 20, 2025Job Summary:
This is not a remote role. You must be in the local area or be willing to relocate.
About the Role
The Office of Technology Enablement (OTE), a division of The Walt Disney Company, is embarking on a mission to build the future of XR experiences across all Disney segments.
Working with top-class industry talent, this role is perfect for the accomplished game engineer looking to create something magical – from focused R&D projects to working with different business units on new ways to experience the characters and stories you love.
OTE is looking for a uniquely talented Senior Gameplay Engineer to join us on this ambitious and exciting initiative. If you are an experienced game programmer with a love of Disney properties, you’ll want to check out this opportunity!
This role will report to the Director of Development.
What you Will Do:
Leverage your knowledge to help implement a collection of interactive experiences based on Disney’s robust portfolio of characters and worlds.
Be an active, hands-on participant in the process, directly writing code and working daily with design/production/art to establish and achieve goals for each interactive experience.
A significant portion of this work will involve implementation using Unreal. This role will require a willingness and ability to operate within the limitations of that ecosystem and grow with it as the functionality matures.
Empower designers by serving as their main support avenue during the development process.
Find creative ways to overcome hardware limitations, maintaining a positive outlook along the way.
Work closely with other members of the engineering and creative teams to ensure that implementation quality is maintained. Be an advocate of stability and flexibility.
Champion Disney and team values. Maintain a ‘guest-first’ mentality by being an advocate for the audience experience.
Serve as a key team member of a growing XR development team at Disney.
Required Qualifications & Skills
5 years of experience developing console/PC/mobile games or other digital interactive entertainment.
Experience with Unreal Engine 4/5+ at the native (C++) level.
Participated in the creation and release of a commercial product, in a hands-on programming role. Was one of the main authors of a major gameplay system.
Served as a programmer during the prototype phase of a project. Understands the difference in requirements/goals between prototyping and production.
Understands and implements the following concepts at a production-quality:
C++ code (Performance Impact, Memory Management, Inheritance, etc.)
Client/Server architecture (Replication, Client-side Prediction, Movement Syncing, etc.)
Game Mathematics (Linear Algebra, Vector Math, Kinematic Physics, Collision, etc.)
Ability to guide engineers.
A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Preferred Qualifications
Shipped products for Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest or other VR Platforms.
Graphics Programming, Mobile experience, and familiarity with Online Services are all bonuses.
Experience with developing and publishing Unreal content.
Has a broad understanding of XR experiences and the various devices that are available on the market
#DISNEYTECH
The hiring range for this position in Burbank, CA is $141,900.00-$190,300.00 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 The Walt Disney Studios:
For over 95 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today it brings quality movies, episodic storytelling, music, and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. The Walt Disney Studios encompasses a collection of respected film studios, including Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures. It is also home to Disney Theatrical Productions, producer of world-class stage shows.
About The Walt Disney Company:
The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.
This position is with Disney Streaming Technology LLC, which is part of a business we call The Walt Disney Studios.
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.