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Senior Ride Development Engineer

Job ID 10127581 Location Lake Buena Vista, Florida, United States Business Walt Disney Imagineering Date posted Sep. 24, 2025
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Job Summary:

About the Role & Team

Walt Disney Imagineering is the creative force that imagines, designs, and brings to life all Disney theme parks, resorts, attractions, and cruise ships worldwide. Working across a spectrum of disciplines that range from creative and conceptual to scientific and technical, Imagineers blend an innovative mixture of storytelling, art, science, and technology to create immersive experiences, memorable destinations, and innovative entertainment for families around the globe.

Nearly every project at Walt Disney Imagineering includes a first-of-its-kind. Innovation is in our DNA, and Imagineers constantly push the boundaries of technology and invent new goals as well as the solutions to achieve them. As Imagineers, one of our greatest rewards is knowing that the experiences and environments we create inspire others. The diversity of expertise at Imagineering makes us uniquely capable of influencing positive change in our communities and around the world. And knowing that we have helped make a difference is incredibly fulfilling and inspiring for all of us.

At Ride Engineering, it is our responsibility to move people through our stories in magical ways that bring these experiences to life! Ride Engineers bring optimism and solutions to design challenges that often seem impossible, and partner with diverse creative talent to define and build one-of-a-kind experience that brings fun and joy to millions of people all around the world. We Create To Inspire!

You will report to the Executive, Ride Development Engineering.

This is a Full-Time role.

What You Will Do:

Ride Development Engineers work within a Project Engineering team and are responsible for every aspect of mechanical ride system design & development from concept through installation. They work on a wide variety of innovative ride platforms that include unique requirements for extreme duty cycles, high reliability, and inherent life safety. They must collaborate on diverse teams that include both technical and creative members and be comfortable in environments where scope and requirements change frequently.  Ride Development Engineers also must bring a passion for maintaining and developing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within Ride Engineering and their project teams.

As a Ride Development Engineer, Senior, you will:

  • Ensure that the safety of Guests and Cast members is the number one focus of ride development as you help drive the culture of technical excellence and global consistency.​

  • Serve as a technical Lead on the mechanical development of a ride system through project phases.

  • Create and develop high-level ride concept models, sketches, mockups, and validation calculations as necessary to capture and convey creative vision and internal stakeholder input while maintaining feasibility to produce. 

  • Define system requirements by transforming the collection of concept designs, sizing calculations, internal and industry standards, and internal stakeholder input, into well-defined and fully detailed technical specifications.   

  • Support the selection, management, and oversight of vendors

  • Help lead and mentor technical and creative internal stakeholders within the larger project team as it pertains to all phases of development of the ride system.   

  • Review vendor or internal design documentation such as models, drawings, hand calculations, FEA, component selections, test reports and technical manuals to assure that ride system elements are within the technical specifications established as well as the company standards of safety, quality, risk, serviceability, reliability, and efficiency.      

  • Travel domestically or internationally as required for research, design reviews, vendor or production management, prototyping, factory testing, etc.   

  • Provide on-site installation support for all ride system and ride system related interface elements within the attraction.   

  • Serve as an onsite technical Lead for all onsite mechanical ride system acceptance testing including support, planning, safe execution, documentation, etc.       

  • Propose input for the improvement of internal ride standards worldwide.     

Required Qualifications & Skills:

  • 5+ years of hands-on mechanical engineering experience in themed entertainment or a technically equivalent field(s)

  • Demonstrated proficiency and experience in the application of the fundamentals of machinery design (e.g. statics, dynamics, vibration, strength of materials)   

  • Experience in machine component and powertrain design, including engineering calculations, component sizing and/or development, strength and fatigue analysis, GD&T, fabrication methods, and drawings

  • Proficiency in mechanism design such as development of motion systems and linkages

  • Proficiency with engineering design and analysis tools such SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Revit, Mathcad, Ansys)

  • Strong hands-on mechanical aptitude and skills applicable to fabrication, assembly, testing, and troubleshooting

  • Experience in failure analysis of a machinery system (e.g. Hazard Analysis, FMEA) 

  • Excellent technical writing and verbal communication skills

  • Proven ability to assess risk/problems and propose unique mitigations

  • Highly dependable, strong work ethic, with excellent time management skills

  • Positive and optimistic influence on team, department, and community

  • Entrepreneurial spirit to bring new and innovative ideas/technology into ride development

Preferred Qualifications and Skills:

  • Disney or comparable themed entertainment experience

  • Experience with electrical control systems and elements applicable to interface and integration within mechanical designs/systems 

  • Understanding and experience with hydraulic and pneumatic systems and their components.

  • Working knowledge of relevant industry codes and standards related to the amusement ride industry (ASTM, AISC, OSHA, ADA, AWS, ANSI, IBC)

  • Desire and ability to mentor others

  • Proactive/self-sufficient/able to work and add value with minimal oversight

  • Professional Engineer (PE) licensure

Required Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) or closely related field such as BSAE (Aerospace Engineering) or BSCE (Civil Engineer- Structural) from an accredited college or university. 

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) or closely related field such as MSAE (Aerospace Engineering) or MSCE (Civil Engineer- Structural) from an accredited college or university.

Additional Information:

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 at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.

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About Walt Disney Imagineering:

Founded in 1952 as WED Enterprises to design and build the world’s first theme park — Disneyland — Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) is where imagination and creativity combine with cutting-edge technology to create unforgettable experiences. WDI is the creative force that imagines, designs and builds all Disney theme parks, resorts, attractions and cruise ships worldwide. Imagineering’s unique strength comes from its diverse global team of creative and technical professionals, who build on Disney’s legacy of storytelling to pioneer new forms of entertainment. The Imagineers who practice this unique blend of art and science work in more than 100 disciplines to shepherd an idea all the way from “blue sky” concept phase to opening day.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc., which is part of a business we call Walt Disney Imagineering.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military or veteran status, medical condition, genetic information or disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION FOR EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS

The Walt Disney Company and its Affiliated Companies are Equal Employment Opportunity employers and welcome all job seekers including individuals with disabilities and veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or apply for a position, visit the Disney candidate disability accommodations FAQs. We will only respond to those requests that are related to the accessibility of the online application system due to a disability.

Having technical issues? View the FAQs for help.

Hiring Process

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Explore this Location Lake Buena Vista, FL

Lake Buena Vista is home to the Disney Springs retail, dining and entertainment complex, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course and several resort hotels are located with the City limits.

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