ESPN
Principal Software Engineer - Ad Platform
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Principal Software Engineer - Ad Platform
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ESPN Principal Software Engineer - Ad Platform
4 months ago Be among the first 25 applicants Join to apply for the
Principal Software Engineer - Ad Platform
role at
ESPN On any given day at Disney Entertainment & ESPN Technology, were reimagining ways to create magical viewing experiences for the worlds most beloved stories while also transforming Disneys media business for the future. Whether thats evolving our streaming and digital products in new and immersive ways, powering worldwide advertising and distribution to maximize flexibility and efficiency, or delivering Disneys 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 youd love working for Disney Entertainment & ESPN Technology
Building the future of Disneys media business: DE&E Technologists are designing and building the infrastructure that will power Disneys 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.
The products and platforms the Ad Platforms 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. We develop and execute groundbreaking products and techniques that shape industry norms and enhance how audiences experience sports, entertainment & news.
The Ad Platforms team is responsible for building and operating the technology that supports Disneys industry-leading, multi-billion dollar global advertising business. Working across all of Disneys streaming brands and linear channels, this teams scope is wide ranging - they impact everything from core infrastructure development that powers Disneys proprietary ad server, to reimagining viewer-first ad experiences and formats. This teams award-winning, in-house built technologies are the backbone of Disneys ad business and a critical element of the Companys streaming future.
The Disney Ad Platforms Data team is at the forefront of building a modern advertising data platform to support our organizations data, analytics and business intelligence needs. Our mission is to enable data engineers, data scientists, analysts, and decision-makers to derive value from our data ecosystem.
Job Summary:
We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer with extensive experience in the Databricks platform and advanced big data engineering practices. This role involves architecting and implementing scalable, secure, and high-performing data solutions to power the Ad Platforms Data platform and support mission-critical data initiatives, including real-time and batch processing pipelines.
As a hands-on technical leader, you will design data architectures that scale to handle terabytes-per-hour throughput, ensuring optimal performance, compliance, and alignment with business needs. You will play a pivotal role in guiding teams, collaborating across departments, and driving innovation.
Responsibilities :
Technical Leadership and Architecture
Architect and implement highly scalable, secure, and efficient ETL/ELT pipelines for both real-time and batch data processing. Design complex, multi-source data ecosystems and ensure seamless integration with tools like Databricks, Delta Lake, and Snowflake. Optimize data pipelines and workflows for performance, cost, and reliability, leveraging cutting-edge tools like Airflow, Spark, Flink, and Databricks Delta Sharing. Lead the adoption of best practices in data warehousing, lakehouse architecture, and metadata management. Champion data security, privacy, and governance, implementing frameworks for lineage tracking, cataloging, and compliance (e.g., SOx, GDPR, CCPA). Drive implementation of Unity Catalog for data governance and cross-account querying.
Platform Development and Operational Excellence
Able to assist in the set up and manage AWS environments, including S3, IAM Roles, Network Peering, and other infrastructure components. Oversee Airflow integration with Databricks Spark clusters, manage user access, and implement robust secret management solutions. Lead the CI/CD process with gated code releases, ensuring code quality and scalable deployment processes. Implement innovative solutions, from the exciting to the mundane; such as Databricks UniForm (Iceberg, Delta) format integration with Snowflake and basic tools to support cost projection, etc.
Data Engineering and Optimization
Optimize Spark Streaming and ETL workflows, leveraging deep expertise in Spark performance tuning. Ensure best practices in data ingestion, transformation, and loading, focusing on highly performant and governed data models. Drive improvements in Delta Lake ecosystems and lakehouse architecture, including Delta Sharing for distributed querying.
Collaboration and Communication
Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Ad Server architects, to align on data strategies and designs. Foster open communication during architectural discussions, confidently defending decisions while welcoming feedback. Bridge the gap between diverse team requirements and technical capabilities to deliver cohesive, scalable solutions.
Innovation and Mentorship
Stay ahead of emerging trends in big data technologies, cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), and distributed computing. Mentor engineers and architects, fostering a culture of innovation, knowledge sharing, and technical excellence.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelors or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering or related technical discipline is highly desirable 10+ years of experience in software engineering with a focus on big data platforms. Proven expertise in building scalable systems capable of processing terabytes of data per hour. Hands-on experience with Databricks, Spark, Flink, Airflow, and Delta Lake ecosystems. Proficiency in Python (including PySpark), Java, or Scala. Extensive knowledge of data warehousing, data lakes, and real-time streaming systems. Hands-on experience with AWS cloud services and data solutions (e.g., S3, Redshift, Athena, IAM). Deep understanding of data compliance (e.g., SOX, GDPR) and governance. Strong skills in data lineage, cataloging, and metadata management.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in the media advertising domain, including linear and digital Ad Sales. Expertise with tools like ERStudio, ERWin, Alation, or Collibra for metadata management. Familiarity with Iceberg format integration and other modern data formats. Certifications in Databricks, AWS, or relevant big data technologies. Ability to manage/lead a team of high-performing data engineers and architects. Strong curiosity about how Disney delivers the Magic and a desire to be a part of it
#disneytech
The hiring range for this position in Los Angeles, CA is between $184,300 $247,100 year and San Franscico, CA is between $201,900 - $270,700 and Seattle, WA is between $193,100 - $258,900. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidates 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.
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Join to apply for the
Principal Software Engineer - Ad Platform
role at
ESPN Principal Software Engineer - Ad Platform
4 months ago Be among the first 25 applicants Join to apply for the
Principal Software Engineer - Ad Platform
role at
ESPN On any given day at Disney Entertainment & ESPN Technology, were reimagining ways to create magical viewing experiences for the worlds most beloved stories while also transforming Disneys media business for the future. Whether thats evolving our streaming and digital products in new and immersive ways, powering worldwide advertising and distribution to maximize flexibility and efficiency, or delivering Disneys 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 youd love working for Disney Entertainment & ESPN Technology
Building the future of Disneys media business: DE&E Technologists are designing and building the infrastructure that will power Disneys 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.
The products and platforms the Ad Platforms 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. We develop and execute groundbreaking products and techniques that shape industry norms and enhance how audiences experience sports, entertainment & news.
The Ad Platforms team is responsible for building and operating the technology that supports Disneys industry-leading, multi-billion dollar global advertising business. Working across all of Disneys streaming brands and linear channels, this teams scope is wide ranging - they impact everything from core infrastructure development that powers Disneys proprietary ad server, to reimagining viewer-first ad experiences and formats. This teams award-winning, in-house built technologies are the backbone of Disneys ad business and a critical element of the Companys streaming future.
The Disney Ad Platforms Data team is at the forefront of building a modern advertising data platform to support our organizations data, analytics and business intelligence needs. Our mission is to enable data engineers, data scientists, analysts, and decision-makers to derive value from our data ecosystem.
Job Summary:
We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer with extensive experience in the Databricks platform and advanced big data engineering practices. This role involves architecting and implementing scalable, secure, and high-performing data solutions to power the Ad Platforms Data platform and support mission-critical data initiatives, including real-time and batch processing pipelines.
As a hands-on technical leader, you will design data architectures that scale to handle terabytes-per-hour throughput, ensuring optimal performance, compliance, and alignment with business needs. You will play a pivotal role in guiding teams, collaborating across departments, and driving innovation.
Responsibilities :
Technical Leadership and Architecture
Architect and implement highly scalable, secure, and efficient ETL/ELT pipelines for both real-time and batch data processing. Design complex, multi-source data ecosystems and ensure seamless integration with tools like Databricks, Delta Lake, and Snowflake. Optimize data pipelines and workflows for performance, cost, and reliability, leveraging cutting-edge tools like Airflow, Spark, Flink, and Databricks Delta Sharing. Lead the adoption of best practices in data warehousing, lakehouse architecture, and metadata management. Champion data security, privacy, and governance, implementing frameworks for lineage tracking, cataloging, and compliance (e.g., SOx, GDPR, CCPA). Drive implementation of Unity Catalog for data governance and cross-account querying.
Platform Development and Operational Excellence
Able to assist in the set up and manage AWS environments, including S3, IAM Roles, Network Peering, and other infrastructure components. Oversee Airflow integration with Databricks Spark clusters, manage user access, and implement robust secret management solutions. Lead the CI/CD process with gated code releases, ensuring code quality and scalable deployment processes. Implement innovative solutions, from the exciting to the mundane; such as Databricks UniForm (Iceberg, Delta) format integration with Snowflake and basic tools to support cost projection, etc.
Data Engineering and Optimization
Optimize Spark Streaming and ETL workflows, leveraging deep expertise in Spark performance tuning. Ensure best practices in data ingestion, transformation, and loading, focusing on highly performant and governed data models. Drive improvements in Delta Lake ecosystems and lakehouse architecture, including Delta Sharing for distributed querying.
Collaboration and Communication
Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Ad Server architects, to align on data strategies and designs. Foster open communication during architectural discussions, confidently defending decisions while welcoming feedback. Bridge the gap between diverse team requirements and technical capabilities to deliver cohesive, scalable solutions.
Innovation and Mentorship
Stay ahead of emerging trends in big data technologies, cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), and distributed computing. Mentor engineers and architects, fostering a culture of innovation, knowledge sharing, and technical excellence.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelors or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering or related technical discipline is highly desirable 10+ years of experience in software engineering with a focus on big data platforms. Proven expertise in building scalable systems capable of processing terabytes of data per hour. Hands-on experience with Databricks, Spark, Flink, Airflow, and Delta Lake ecosystems. Proficiency in Python (including PySpark), Java, or Scala. Extensive knowledge of data warehousing, data lakes, and real-time streaming systems. Hands-on experience with AWS cloud services and data solutions (e.g., S3, Redshift, Athena, IAM). Deep understanding of data compliance (e.g., SOX, GDPR) and governance. Strong skills in data lineage, cataloging, and metadata management.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in the media advertising domain, including linear and digital Ad Sales. Expertise with tools like ERStudio, ERWin, Alation, or Collibra for metadata management. Familiarity with Iceberg format integration and other modern data formats. Certifications in Databricks, AWS, or relevant big data technologies. Ability to manage/lead a team of high-performing data engineers and architects. Strong curiosity about how Disney delivers the Magic and a desire to be a part of it
#disneytech
The hiring range for this position in Los Angeles, CA is between $184,300 $247,100 year and San Franscico, CA is between $201,900 - $270,700 and Seattle, WA is between $193,100 - $258,900. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidates 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.
Seniority level
Seniority level
Mid-Senior level Employment type
Employment type
Full-time Job function
Job function
Information Technology Industries
Broadcast Media Production and Distribution Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at ESPN by 2x Sign in to set job alerts for Principal Software Engineer roles.
Santa Monica, CA $184,300.00-$270,700.00 1 month ago Sr. Manager, Engineering, Advanced Technology & Innovation -Project Hire
Glendale, CA $138,900.00-$186,200.00 1 week ago Burbank, CA $139,200.00-$200,000.00 3 days ago Los Angeles, CA $160,000.00-$190,000.00 3 weeks ago Glendale, CA $152,200.00-$204,100.00 1 day ago Los Angeles, CA $140,000.00-$160,000.00 2 weeks ago Sr. Manager, Software Engineering - Unpublished R&D Product
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Were unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI. #J-18808-Ljbffr