Principal Online Services Developer

About the Role & Team

Disney Digital Entertainment, a division of Disney Experiences, is embarking on a mission to create the ‘digital front door’ for The Walt Disney Company—bringing all of Disney’s magic together into a new, interactive universe.

We are building an expert development team that will usher in the next generation of Disney to the world. We are seeking a Principal Online Services Developer—a technical master passionate about creating robust, scalable backend systems for global audiences. If you are a master of large-scale systems, high-concurrency environments, and cloud technologies, and have a love of all things Disney (such as Parks, Cruises, ESPN, Disney/Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel), this role is for you!

This role will report to the Director of Engineering, Online Services.

This role can be based remotely in Sweden, Denmark, Finland or Norway.

What You Will Do

• Architect and develop large-scale backend systems optimized for high-load, high-concurrency environments, supporting tens of millions of users worldwide.

• Design and build scalable REST APIs that integrate seamlessly across platforms and services, enabling a unified Disney interactive experience.

• Lead complex service integrations between Disney systems and external partners, ensuring reliability, security, and performance.

• Optimize and handle cloud infrastructure on platforms such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, leveraging cloud-native technologies for efficiency and scale.

• Champion technical excellence by driving best practices for backend performance, scalability, and cost optimization.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with global, distributed teams across multiple time zones to deliver seamless, scalable services.

• Provide leadership and mentorship, empowering teams with technical guidance and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Technical Mastery: Shown experience building backend systems for high-load, high-concurrency environments supporting massive global audiences.

• Cloud Expertise: Hands-on experience with AWS or Google Cloud and modern cloud-native technologies.

• Programming Mastery: Expert proficiency in languages like Go, Rust, or C#, with experience architecting and implementing complex REST APIs.

• System Integration: A consistent track record integrating large-scale systems across platforms and services, ensuring security and seamless user experiences.

• Scalability Leadership: Expertise optimizing backend performance and availability under stress conditions, supporting tens of millions of concurrent users.

• Collaboration: Exceptional interpersonal skills and shown success working within globally distributed teams across time zones.

• Education: A Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science (or equivalent work experience).

• Experience: 10+ years in backend development, with experience in Principal Engineer roles at leading tech companies (e.g., Amazon, Google, Microsoft) or major gaming studios (e.g., Ubisoft, EA).

• Proficient English

Why Disney Digital Entertainment?

• Be part of an innovative mission to deliver the next generation of Disney’s digital magic to fans around the globe.

• Collaborate with premier talent to build scalable systems powering Disney’s most iconic franchises, including Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars.

• Shape the backend systems for a groundbreaking new interactive experience and impact millions of players worldwide.

• Work in a collaborative, global environment where innovation, creativity, and technical excellence thrive.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided the necessary accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive all benefits of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.