Software Engineer Intern, Summer 2026

About the Role & Program:

Technology is at the heart of Disney’s past, present, and future. Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology is a global organization of engineers, product developers, designers, technologists, and storytellers—building and advancing the technological backbone for Disney’s media business worldwide.

The Product Engineering pillar combines technology with creativity to build world-class products, enhance storytelling, and drive innovation and scalability across our media ecosystem. Within this organization, the Software Engineer plays a key role in advancing virtual production workflows for both cinematic, digital, and linear environments.

The focus of this position is to improve efficiency of real-time graphics systems and user experience through delivering modern control and automation tools to eliminate tedious sub-processes. This includes working with Unreal Engine and Web Service to design, test, deploy, support custom software plugins and web service and work directly with virtual production stage technology and will contribute active data-automated content creation.

Here are a few reasons why we think you’d love working here: 

Shape the Future of Visual Storytelling — Join the team redefining how audiences experience sports and entertainment. You’ll use cutting-edge real-time tools to bring ESPN’s most iconic moments to life on LED stages and beyond. Innovate With Industry-Leading Technology — Work hands-on with Unreal Engine 5, LED volume systems, and data-driven visualization pipelines. You’ll prototype, experiment, and implement next-generation production techniques. Collaborate With Creatives and Engineers — Partner with directors, artists, and technologists who share your passion for blending creativity with precision. Here, every project is a collaboration between art and science, where your ideas directly impact what fans see on screen. Build What’s Next — Help expand ESPN’s real-time rendering capabilities for the future of live storytelling. You’ll be part of a team that constantly experiments, learns, and evolves—pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in sports and media technology.

What You Will Do:

As a Software Engineer, build infrastructure, tools, and services to support data-rich automation friendly real-time graphics systems. You’ll design and optimize Unreal Engine 5 environments for LED stages and real-time broadcast, ensuring every frame meets both artistic and technical excellence.

• Develop and debug software enhancements for game engine pipelines and features in Unreal Engine 5, and create technical documentation.

• Collaborate with creatives and engineers to ensure alignment between requirement and data-enriched assets in-engine production.

• Unreal Engine creative development, including CG asset creation and automation enhancement using Unreal Engine Blueprint scripting.

• Research emerging technologies and participate in next-generation automation tool development.

Basic Qualifications & Skills:

• Working knowledge of version control systems such as Perforce or Git

• Experience writing or debugging Python, C++, or Unreal Engine Blueprint

• Knowledge of CG asset creation and optimization (Maya, Blender, Adobe)

• Basic understanding of data structures, APIs, and client-server communication, with curiosity about how data flows through. real-time graphics systems

Preferred Qualifications & Skills:

• Interest in virtual production and exposure to Unreal Engine plugin development or custom editor tools

• Familiarity with RESTful web services or real-time messaging protocols

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to learn quickly and contribute to collaborative, cross-disciplinary teams

Education:

• Junior or Senior year preferred

• Currently enrolled undergraduate student in an accredited college/university, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Game Engineering, Game and Interactive Design, Systems Engineering or related field.

Eligibility Requirements & Program Information

Candidates for this opportunity MUST meet all of the below requirements:

• Be enrolled in an accredited college/university pursuing a degree taking at least one class in the semester/quarter (spring/fall) prior to participation in the internship program AND returning to school the semester/quarter following the internship OR currently participating in a Disney College Program or Disney Internship.

• Current Disney Interns, College, International, or Culinary Program Participants:  You may only work for ONE consecutive year (12 months) in any combination of an internship and/or program.  

• Be at least 18 years of age

• Possess unrestricted work authorization

Additional Information  

• Fully available from M-F, 40 hours each week for the entire program duration: May/June - August/September 2026 (12 weeks)

• Able to provide own housing for the duration internship program

• Able to provide/have reliable transportation to/from work

The pay rate for this role in Bristol, CT or New York, NY is $42.00 per hour. Select benefits may be provided as part of the compensation package, such as medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered. To learn more about our benefits visit: https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.