Interested in a career with a dynamic company built on imagination and innovation?
Consider The Walt Disney Studios. From movies to music to stage plays and home entertainment, the magic is in the possibilities. And behind the scenes is where it all begins!
We know that our employees are the key to our success and the foundation on which we're building our legacy. The Walt Disney Studios hires individuals with diverse talents and backgrounds; people eager to push the limits of creativity and technology and create world-class content for businesses that span the globe. We are committed to the development and care of our employees and their families, as well as our community and the environment. We offer competitive salaries, a rewarding work experience and comprehensive benefits and wellness packages.
We think The Walt Disney Studios is a great place to work, and we're not the only ones:
The Walt Disney Studios is an equal opportunity employer.
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VP, Engineering, Worldwide Technical Services,
The Walt Disney Studios (TWDS)
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1. Disney isn't a typical "tech company." What drew you to The Walt Disney Studios?
"When I first came to the Studios several years ago, Disney was already moving to the forefront as a technological company. The Studio was one of the first to embrace Digital Cinema and had always been focused on quality, both of which are very important to me. I started out in a newly-created role: Engineering in the Worldwide Technical Services group. As I grew in the position, I was able to use my background in areas such as DVD compression, authoring, editing, sound, and mastering all within one role. That's a large part of why I love my position here – I get to use all of my random knowledge to fix problems and learn about new technologies that can be used in our production processes."
2. What do you enjoy most about your job?
"I like seeing other people have an 'a-ha' moment. It's great to break something down that's really complex and to see that look of 'I get it!' on someone's face who's not a technical person. And I also love that I get to interface with different groups here at Disney. I'm involved in synergy efforts with different groups, like Home Entertainment, the TV groups and Film Distribution, but I also get to interact with Parks & Resorts and Disney Cruise Line, too.
On a broader scale, I've contributed to industry efforts to establish some standards with other studios and companies in the Blu-ray Disc Association and the Interoperable Master Format (IMF) project. Our goal for the IMF is to create a standardized file-based master format for the industry. There are so many different file formats used by the different studios, which can be chaotic and lead to a lot of problems. With the IMF, we're just trying to bring a little order to the 'digital wild west.'"
3. What are you most proud of, professionally?
"In addition to the IMF efforts, I'm also proud of some of the 'geekier' things I've done. I started the file naming convention used in Digital Cinema which, with the great efforts of Mark Harrah, executive director, Post Production, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Marketing, and others, has been adopted throughout the industry so that we have a standard way of naming Digital Cinema Packages. I'm really proud to be helping the Studio transition from a purely videotape-based world to a completely file-based world – this is going to sound silly, but it really is a dream come true! I hope that through these types of projects, one day I can leave knowing that I created something sensible that will continue to be used."
4. How do you manage work/life balance?
"I'll be the first to admit that it's a challenge. I haven't figured out the perfect balance, but I'm working on it! It's definitely important to have a life outside of work."
5. What advice do you have for women interested in pursuing a career in technology?
"If you're interested in pursuing it, do it! There used to be a lot of preconceived notions about women in tech fields, but they're almost nonexistent nowadays. The atmosphere is much more accepting of women in technology. Any woman in a tech field usually understands that she's in the minority, but there's no reason she can't contribute like everyone else there. Geeky women rock!"
6. What attributes do you look for in a prospective employee?
"It depends on the role obviously, but usually I'm looking for more technically savvy people. I try to find people who know their stuff through and through and are capable of communicating that. It's very important to have someone who's knowledgeable but also able to communicate well."
7. How would you finish the sentence: The Walt Disney Studios is a great place for technologists because…
"…we're on the cutting edge in so many ways! It's so exciting to be a technologist and to be working at Disney – I have seen a huge shift over the past ten years. Disney has a commitment to quality that sets us apart but also an understanding that we need to get things done. We're on the forefront, driving industry efforts, conscious of what's happening out there, and working to push things forward. Anyone can separate themselves and do their own thing, but it's important to the Studios to make things that work not only for us, but also for the industry. If we can improve the industry as a whole, we all win."
8. What's your favorite home/personal technology or gadget?
"There are so many! I love Tivo and Nintendo and my Kindle and my HD video camera and my natural gas Honda Civic…but I have to say my favorite is my iPhone. It sounds so cliché, but it's like a Swiss army knife – there are so many things it can do. It's like having a computer in your pocket, and it's just really cool."
*Check out Hot Jobs for opportunities at The Walt Disney Studios.
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