At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team in managing database services and platform engineering for global applications.
- Company: Join Disney's innovative tech team, focused on creativity and collaboration.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, private medical insurance, and free park entry.
- Why this job: Make an impact by driving efficiency and innovation in a globally recognised company.
- Qualifications: Experience with SQL Server, cloud platforms, and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values integrity, inclusion, and community.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
About the Role & Team
The Enterprise Technology mission is to deliver solutions that align with business strategy, drive enterprise efficiency, and foster cross‑company innovation. We focus on enhancing consumer experiences, enabling business growth, and advancing operational excellence. Within this organisation, the International Application Services (IAS) team provides enterprise technology solutions that empower growth and deliver value across brands, geographies, and business units.
Platform Engineering
Platform Engineering is responsible for ensuring that application deployment platforms are well‑designed, reliable, and aligned to the needs of Corporate International’s business applications. The team drives DevOps practices across IAS, championing automation, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. Our Database & Insights capability combines robust SQL Server management with meaningful reporting and analytics, ensuring secure, high‑performing data platforms and the insights needed to support data‑driven decision‑making across the business.
Values
You’ll join a team grounded in our Disney values — acting with Integrity, welcoming everyone through Inclusion, embracing boundless Creativity, working together through Collaboration and caring deeply for our Community. These values shape how we work and how we support one another every day.
What You Will Do
This role provides leadership for International database administrators and platform engineers within the IAS team. It is accountable for the direction and strategy of Database Services and Platform Engineering, ensuring our platforms remain secure, reliable, scalable, and aligned with business needs across both on‑premise and cloud environments. In addition to operational excellence, the role will have the opportunity to help grow our Data Insights capability — covering BI reporting, dashboarding and light analytical work. The manager is expected to stay current with developments in database technologies, cloud data platforms, BI tools, and modern engineering practices to deliver continuously improving services and clear, actionable insights for stakeholders.
Job Responsibilities
- Provide strategic direction of the database services and platform environments
- Responsible for the smooth running and operations of MS SQL Server Infrastructure for over 500 databases across International
- Responsible for the smooth running and operations of platforms (on-prem and cloud) for over 25 Corporate Business Applications
- Ensure the high availability of all the services and that they remain scalable to support transparent growth
- Provide observability across all supported systems and platforms
- Ensure all platforms remain fully secure and adhere to GIS compliance and standards
- Develop and introduce standards and good practices across all disciplines
- Identify areas for automation to increase team efficiency
- Maintain a high level of technical expertise by keeping up-to-date with the latest industry changes
- Collaborate closely with IT stakeholders in determining workloads and roadmaps
- Collaborate closely with business stakeholders in designing and implementation of ETL's and Reports
- Manage and mentor team members (based in UK, Argentina and India)
Required Qualifications & Skills
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft SQL Server
- Microsoft SQL Server - Analysis Services
- Microsoft SQL Server - Reporting Services and PowerBI
- Microsoft SQL Server - Integration Services
- Disaster Recovery & High Availability
- Third‑Party Monitoring and Observability tools
- PowerShell
- Git (GitLab)
- Azure Experience
- CI/CD (GitLab Pipelines and Octopus Deploy)
- Infrastructure as Code (Terraform and Ansible)
- AWS Experience
- Azure Data Factory
The Perks
- 25 days annual leave
- Private medical insurance & dental care
- Free Park Entry: You will have the opportunity to enter any of our parks with your family and friends for free
- Disney Discounts: you are entitled to discounts on designated Disney products, resort F&B and ticketing
- Excellent parental and guardian leave
- Employee Resource Groups – WOMEN @ Disney, Disney Mosaic, Disney PRIDE, our disability & neurodiversity focused group - ENABLED, and our Mental Health & Wellbeing Group, TRUST.
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 reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
Manager, Platform Engineering & Database Services employer: The Walt Disney Company (Corporate)
Contact Detail:
The Walt Disney Company (Corporate) Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Manager, Platform Engineering & Database Services
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company and its values. Understand their mission and how your skills align with their goals. This will help you stand out as someone who truly gets what they’re about.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or use online platforms to get comfortable with common questions. The more you practice, the more confident you'll feel when it’s time to shine.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our brand.
We think you need these skills to ace Manager, Platform Engineering & Database Services
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience with database services and platform engineering. We want to see how your skills align with our mission of driving enterprise efficiency and innovation.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t hold back on detailing your technical expertise! Mention your experience with Microsoft SQL Server, Azure, and any relevant tools like PowerBI or Terraform. We love seeing candidates who are up-to-date with the latest industry changes.
Emphasise Collaboration: Since we value teamwork, share examples of how you've collaborated with IT and business stakeholders in the past. Highlighting your ability to work together will resonate well with us at StudySmarter.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity in our IAS team!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Walt Disney Company (Corporate)
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Microsoft SQL Server, Azure, and the latest database technologies. Be ready to discuss how you've used these tools in past roles, especially in relation to operational excellence and automation.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead and mentor teams. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed diverse teams, particularly in different geographical locations, and how you've fostered collaboration and inclusion.
✨Align with Company Values
Familiarise yourself with Disney's core values: Integrity, Inclusion, Creativity, Collaboration, and Community. Think of specific instances where you've embodied these values in your work, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and strategic thinking. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you've had to ensure high availability and security of platforms, or how you've implemented automation to improve efficiency.