Manager - Software Engineering

About the Role & Team

We create happiness.” That’s our motto at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. And it permeates in everything we do. At Disney, you’ll help encourage that magic by enabling our teams to push the limits and build the never-before-seen! Are you ready to join this team and make an impact?

You will work with the Modeling, Simulation, and Training Tools (MST) team within Global Engineering & Technology (GE&T). MST is a team of multi-disciplinary engineers who help solve difficult engineering and design problems by leveraging and developing state-of-the-art simulation and digital design tools. Our team provides detailed engineering simulation, design, engineering, and analysis services worldwide for Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), Park Operations, GE&T, Transportation, Engineering Services, and Entertainment. MST builds tools to optimize design and architecture and identify solutions for new attractions and existing assets. The team covers a large breadth of technology, including system simulations, hardware-in-the-loop simulations, digital twins, software application development, and dynamic mechanical systems analysis.

This role reports to the Senior Manager of MST and requires the manager to lead a multidisciplinary engineering team to support technical development while meeting key business objectives. This leadership role typically requires 25% to 50% of the time performing team management duties. Additional duties include providing technical project support and appropriate subject matter expertise on relevant projects.

What You Will Do

• Lead and support a team of highly functioning multidisciplinary engineers by helping them meet career goals while maintaining key business objectives such as scope, schedule, and budget.

• Establish positive relationships with each direct report; listen, give guidance, advocate, and grow them professionally.

• Foster a culture of growth, innovation, and management through change.

• Track and supervise technical and project performance by facilitating code, analysis, or design reviews.

• Build and maintain good relationships with partners throughout the Disney Company, such as WDI, Walt Disney World (WDW), and Disneyland Ride Control, Mechanical, and Sustaining Engineering Teams, Scientific Systems, Entertainment, Character Programs & Development, RCID, Operations, Disney Cruise Lines, Transportation Systems, etc.

• Develop and understand macro-level business opportunities, including developing roadmaps for integrating new technologies into park operations and developing new products.

• Develop new business opportunities that align with MST’s mission and technical advancement. Prioritize and communicate to foster the growth of these new businesses.

• Work closely with customers to set realistic expectations, staffing plans, and schedules.

• Connect with other managers to understand team resource levels and project priorities.

• Forecasting resource needs involves communicating with partners and planning for future scope, supervising budgets and spending, verifying planning assumptions, and gathering support from leadership.

• Resolve resource priority conflicts between project teams and customers.

• Handle conflict resolution within the team and with customers or key partners.

• Lead external vendor scopes of work, including software, systems, or mechanical scopes.

• Employ best hiring practices, such as adhering to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) principles, and retain senior talent.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• 7+ years of engineering experience (Software, Controls, Systems, or Mechanical).

• Proven ability to lead complex systems-level efforts.

• Proven ability to lead and empower team members.

• Proven ability to mentor and guide less experienced team members.

• Proven ability to manage resources & budgets for department portfolio.

• Proven ability to communicate effectively, written and verbal, and establish lasting relationships with team members, customers, and partners.

• Proven ability to balance priorities and time allocation for oneself.

• Proven ability to resolve challenges and demonstrate professionalism.

• Ability to confidently employ the Agile methodology.

• Experience with software development environments, such as MS Visual Studio.

• Experience developing applications using object-oriented programming.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with collaboration tools, including Confluence, Slack, JIRA, Microsoft Teams

• Experience with defining system requirements and using system architecture tools

• Experience with version control repository managers, such as Gitlab, SVN, etc.

• Experience with solving mathematical models of electro-mechanical and control systems

• Experience with analytical tools such as MathWorks or ANSYS.

• Experience with all facets of simulation involvement in Ride and Show Mechanical and Controls Systems design.

• Experience with development using, C++, C#, JavaScript, Python, or Matlab.

• Experience with simulation involvement in the Creative Design Process.

• Experience with the new attraction project cycles and critical milestones for simulation involvement.

• Experience with fieldwork, including authoring test procedures, installation, testing, and communication strategy.

Education

• ABET-accredited Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Systems Engineering or equivalent Engineering Degree

Additional Information

Benefits and Perks: Disney offers a rewards package to help you live your best life. This includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities and special extras that only Disney can provide. Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.

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