Associate Research Scientist

About the Role & Team

“Any sufficiently complex technology is indistinguishable from magic.” - Arthur C. Clarke 

At Walt Disney Imagineering, we are constantly exploring new ways to connect with our guests – to surprise them, make them smile, and open their minds to magic - not just in our parks and resorts, but everywhere around the world. 

At Walt Disney Imagineering Research and Development, this "magic" emerges from the application of world-class technology and everything from new Guest-facing experiences to new tools for Imagineers and Cast Members who power our parks and bring that magic to life. Our team of engineers, designers, artists, and scientists share a passion for solving impossible problems and building ground-breaking experiences.  

At Disney Research Imagineering, we pursue and apply the science behind the magic: unlocking new opportunities for Imagineering in all aspects of project lifecycles, from early phase creative ideation to deployment.  

We are seeking an Associate Research Scientist within Disney Research Imagineering with a passion for generative AI and 3D technologies to help prototype, test, and refine intelligent systems that empower designers, storytellers, and engineers across Disney. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to high-impact projects at the intersection of spatial computing, machine learning, and immersive design. 

The Role

As an Associate Research Scientist, you will work with senior scientists, artists, and engineers to develop, implement, and evaluate AI models and 3D tools that support the creative process. Your role will focus on scientific evaluation, technical execution, model training, integration, and prototyping within a fast-paced R&D environment. 

You will report to the Associate Lab Director within Disney Research Imagineering. 

What You Will Do

• Assist in developing, training, and testing generative models for 3D content creation and spatial design tasks. 

• Evaluate state-of-the-art techniques for 3D content creation, to bring the best, most up-to-date recommendations to our business use cases 

• Conduct original research in generative AI, focusing on 3D model generation, scene synthesis, and simulation. 

• Implement AI pipelines and tools using modern machine learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow). 

• Support integration of AI models with game engines and 3D tools (e.g., Unreal, Unity). 

• Contribute to the development of interactive prototypes for internal user testing and demonstration. 

• Collaborate on dataset preparation, evaluation metrics, and model tuning processes. 

• Coordinate with internal and external research partners, including academic institutions, industry labs, and vendors. 

• Document research and projects for multiple audiences, to ensure knowledge sharing and reproducibility, and communicate research insights. 

• Stay up to date with the field of research for generative 3D modeling and animation. 

Required Qualifications & Skills

• 3+ years’ research experience in applied machine learning, computer vision, or graphics programming 

• Familiarity with generative models and 3D imagery technologies (e.g., GANs, 3D diffusion models, NeRFs) and their use in 3D or visual applications. 

• Proficient in Python and experience with deep learning libraries (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow). 

• Hands-on experience with 3D data (meshes, point clouds, voxel grids, implicit surfaces). 

• Familiarity with computer graphics fundamentals, geometry processing, or simulation. 

• Ability to bridge AI model development with practical deployment in 3D visualization, asset creation, and construction coordination. 

• Ability to write, debug and review C, C++, and Python software. 

• Strong problem-solving and communication skills; ability to work collaboratively on multidisciplinary teams. 

• A desire to work in a creative environment where technical and creative experts collaborate and challenge each other every day to achieve truly groundbreaking solutions 

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with real-time rendering engines (Unreal Engine, Unity) and 3D modeling toolchains (Blender, Houdini, Maya) enhanced by AI workflows. 

• Experience developing AI applications for interactive design, spatial computing, and XR (VR/AR/MR) simulations in entertainment or architecture. 

• Strong understanding of animation principles, motion synthesis, kinematics, and behavioral AI. 

• Experience with generative models for animation, such as motion transformers, motion diffusion models, variational motion encoders, or reinforcement learning for animated control. 

• Experience integrating animation systems into real-time engines 

• Familiarity with motion capture data pipelines, retargeting techniques, and animation blending. 

• Demonstrated ability to bridge technical research and production-quality animation systems, ideally through previous work in film, games, or immersive media. 

• Contributions to open-source projects or prior internships in research labs or innovation teams. 

• Interest in construction tech, architecture, or fabrication workflows is a plus. 

Education

PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, Computational Design, or a related field with a focus on AI/ML, computer graphics, or interactive systems. 

Additional Information

This role is located in Glendale, CA.

Benefits and Perks: Disney offers a rewards package to help you live your best life. This includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities, and special extras that only Disney can provide. Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits. 

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The hiring range for this position in Glendale, CA is $138,900 to $186,200 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. 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.