At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and maintain VFX production tools and workflows while providing technical support.
- Company: Join the innovative team at The Walt Disney Studios, where creativity thrives.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, private medical insurance, and free park entry.
- Other info: Collaborate with a diverse team across time zones and enjoy excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic environment creating world-class entertainment and solving creative challenges.
- Qualifications: Expert in Python and experience with VFX production pipelines required.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.
About The Team
It’s the magic of immersing yourself in a motion picture masterpiece, or a new track from your favourite band, or the spectacle of a live Broadway show. It’s hard to define and even harder to create, but that’s what we do at The Walt Disney Studios. Ours is a culture of innovation, collaboration, and creativity. We raise the bar, then step over it, blazing trails through the production and distribution of world class entertainment around the globe. If you want to help tell compelling, enduring stories through movies, music or stage plays, then we want to hear from you.
As part of the Studio Technology organization, you will join a group of seasoned technologists dedicated to solving a range of creative problems through innovation, strategy, and forward thinking. This role sits within the Motion Picture Labs at Walt Disney Studios, which is a group of specialty film making labs in Production Technology providing production services, research, development, innovation and support required for civilized filmmaking.
Job Overview
We are seeking a highly skilled and adaptable Technical Director to support our London-based production unit within a fast-paced Visual Effects environment. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on solving complex production challenges, building robust tools and workflows, and collaborating closely with both technical teams and non-technical production staff. You will play a key role in developing and maintaining production pipelines, while also acting as a frontline support resource for artists, coordinators, and producers. This position works closely with our Los Angeles based Technical Director team, requiring clear communication and effective cross-time-zone collaboration.
Role & Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and maintain scalable production tools, pipelines, and workflows for VFX production.
- Provide day-to-day technical support to production teams, troubleshooting issues across pipeline, tools, and data flow.
- Act as a bridge between technical and non-technical stakeholders, translating requirements into actionable solutions.
- Support and maintain production tracking app using Flow Production Tracking and related tools.
- Working knowledge of screening room and review workflows, or the ability to learn them quickly.
- Assist with large-scale data transfers, including troubleshooting and operational support for platforms such as Signiant and Aspera.
- Document workflows, tools, and issues clearly for cross-site collaboration, including JIRA tickets and internal communications.
- Collaborate with the Los Angeles Technical Director team to ensure continuity of support across time zones.
- Take ownership of a wide range of tasks, from high-level pipeline engineering to hands-on technical assistance as needed.
Qualifications and Experience
- Expert-level proficiency in Python for pipeline and tool development.
- Strong experience building and maintaining VFX production pipelines and workflows.
- Deep familiarity with Flow Production Tracking (Shotgrid).
- Experience with industry-standard review tools such as RV and DaVinci Resolve.
- Strong understanding of production environments, file systems, and asset management.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with FileMaker Pro.
- Knowledge of large data transfer platforms such as Signiant and Aspera.
- Experience building web applications (e.g., full-stack or backend tools for production workflows).
- Familiarity with additional programming languages beyond Python.
Soft Skills & Attributes
- Exceptional multitasking ability in a high-pressure, fast-paced production environment.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain technical concepts to non-technical users.
- Proactive problem-solver with a “no task too small” mindset.
- Comfortable handling a mix of responsibilities, including tasks that may extend beyond traditional Technical Director duties.
- Highly organized with strong documentation and follow-through skills.
Working Environment
- Based in London, supporting a local production team.
- Daily collaboration with a distributed Technical Director team in Los Angeles.
- Requires effective communication across time zones, including clear written documentation (e.g., JIRA tickets, emails, and chat updates) to ensure seamless handoff of tasks and issues.
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 with 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.
Technical Director employer: The Walt Disney Company
At The Walt Disney Studios, we foster a vibrant culture of innovation and creativity, making it an exceptional place for a Technical Director to thrive. Located in Iver Heath, our London-based production unit offers unique opportunities for collaboration with a global team, alongside generous benefits such as private medical insurance, free park entry, and a commitment to employee growth through diverse resource groups. Join us to be part of a team that not only values your technical expertise but also champions inclusivity and well-being.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Technical Director
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at The Walt Disney Company or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to The Walt Disney Company.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like The Walt Disney Company.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like The Walt Disney Company that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Technical Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at The Walt Disney Company.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at The Walt Disney Company and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Walt Disney Company
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If The Walt Disney Company uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.