Hybrid Lead Software Development Engineer in Test

at The Walt Disney Company

• Job title: Lead Software Development Engineer in Test
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Senior
• Salary: $141,900 - $190,300 per year
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Tech skills: AWS, Cloud, Django, Docker, Flask, Grafana, Java, JavaScript, Kafka, Kubernetes, Node.js, Python, React, SDLC, Spinnaker
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Glendale, United States

About the role

• Lead Software Engineer focused on quality assurance for Disney's entertainment solutions, driving testing strategies and team mentorship. Collaborate with architects to ensure robust test frameworks and practices.

Responsibilities

• Drives Quality Engineering Strategy & Architecture
• Leads the design and implementation of scalable, fault-tolerant, cloud-native test architectures across multiple product teams.
• Defines quality engineering strategies aligned with business goals, ensuring alignment with architectural and operational excellence standards.
• Partners with architects, product owners, and engineering leadership to build and refine robust test frameworks and infrastructure.
• Champions the adoption of modern testing practices (shift-left, CI/CD integration, observability, etc.) across the organization.
• Provides technical guidance and mentorship to SDETs and engineers across teams, reviewing architecture, test code, and frameworks.
• Ensures engineering best practices are consistently applied through code reviews, design sessions, and hands-on pairing.
• Facilitates cross-team collaboration to align on common tools, standards, and reusable testing components.
• Leads post-mortem/root cause analysis for critical quality incidents and drives preventive action.
• Leads the planning and execution of multiple testing initiatives in Agile environments, ensuring timely and high-quality deliverables.
• Owns the test strategy for large and complex projects, including defining test metrics, release criteria, and automation goals.
• Ensures governance for quality gates, compliance, and traceability across product teams.
• Identifies cross-functional bottlenecks or risks and drives resolution proactively.
• Builds, enhances, and maintains scalable, reusable test automation frameworks and tools.
• Researches and introduces emerging tools and practices (AI in testing, autonomous testing, etc.) to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Tracks quality metrics (e.g., defect escape rate, automation coverage, flakiness) and continuously iterates on testing processes.
• Influences organizational test maturity by driving initiatives in performance testing, security testing, and reliability engineering.

Requirements

• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in software development roles such as SDET, Software Engineer, or Site Reliability Engineer, with a focus on automated and/or unit testing of front-end and/or back-end services.
• Proficient in object-oriented design and experienced with at least one major programming language: Python, Java, or Node.js/JavaScript.
• Demonstrated success working within high-performing teams utilizing Agile and Lean methodologies.
• Strong collaboration skills with a proven ability to use standard SDLC tools including Jira, Confluence, and version control systems.
• Hands-on experience delivering production applications using Python, Flask, Django, React, or Node.js.
• Hands-on experience delivering production backend services and components using Python, or Java.
• Experience developing and deploying applications on cloud platforms such as AWS, with a focus on optimizing cost and efficiency.
• Familiarity with distributed messaging systems such as Kafka, Amazon SQS, or Kinesis.
• Proficient in writing Gherkin Syntax for automated test scenario development.
• Working knowledge of containerization and CI/CD tools, including Docker, Kubernetes, and Spinnaker.
• Experience with test case and issue management tools (e.g., JIRA, Xray), code quality and management tools (e.g., Git, SonarQube), and data visualization tools (e.g., Grafana, Datadog).

Benefits

• 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.