Principal Software Engineer

The Walt Disney Company

Remote

Quick summary

Work type
Remote
Location
Remote
Salary
$206,400–$276,700 / yr
Posted
3 days ago
Closes
Nov 30, 2026

Market check

Salary context

Above market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $184k
This role $242k
$115k most similar roles pay here $294k

This role pays more than 90% of similar roles. Most pay $154,250–$212,750 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $242k versus about $184k for comparable roles.

Based on 239 similar postings.

Employer

About The Walt Disney Company

The Walt Disney Company is a diversified global entertainment and media enterprise operating in segments including Disney Parks, Experiences and Products; Entertainment (ABC, Hulu, Disney+); and ESPN. Industry: Entertainment & Media

The Walt Disney Company currently has 173 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $148,300–$198,800 across 169 roles with salary data.

Most-posted roles

View all roles at The Walt Disney Company

At a glance

TL;DR · Principal Software Engineer

As a Principal Software Engineer in Disney’s Core Media Technology team within the DEEP&T Media Engineering organization, you will lead research and development for next-generation image and video coding using ML/AI methods. Your daily tasks include participating in industry standards bodies like MPEG and IETF, collaborating with academic researchers, and driving innovative media R&D to enhance storytelling through advanced technologies. You will design algorithms and software workflows to optimize the media platform’s velocity, scale, and efficiency for live and on-demand video streaming. Essential skills include deep expertise in video coding standards (AV1, AV2, AVC), strong algorithmic knowledge, and experience with AI/ML frameworks like C/C++ and Python. The role demands a visionary approach to technical leadership, influencing long-term strategy through significant IP generation and collaboration across global teams in Zurich, Bangalore, Beijing, and the US.

What you'll do

  • Conduct research and development for future image and video coding using ML/AI methods.
  • Participate in industry standards bodies like MPEG, IETF, and VQEG to represent Disney.
  • Develop advanced computer vision algorithms and apply ML techniques for media tasks.
  • Design video algorithms and workflows to optimize velocity, scale, and efficiency.
  • Drive architectural innovation and generate significant intellectual property internally.

What we're looking for

  • Minimum 10 years of experience in video coding and media processing.
  • Expertise in video coding standards like AV1, AVC, HEVC, VVC.
  • Strong background in traditional and neural network-based video coding tools.
  • Proven track record of IP generation and deep understanding of multimedia stacks.
  • Experience applying deep learning techniques to video processing tasks.
  • In-depth knowledge of video formats, encoders/decoders, playback players.

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