Job Posting Title:

WDI Research & Development - Fall Robotics Software Intern

Req ID:

10154998

Job Description:

Robotics Software Engineering Internship Job Description

Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) is the master planning, creative development, design, engineering, production, project management, and research arm of The Walt Disney Company’s (TWDC) Parks and Resorts business segment. Representing more than 150 disciplines, the talented corps of Imagineers are responsible for the creation of Disney resorts, theme parks and attractions, hotels, water parks, real estate developments, regional entertainment venues, cruise ships and new media technology projects.

What we're looking for…

We’re looking for a robotics software engineering intern to support development of free-walking robotic characters within our R&D department. The ideal candidate will work at the intersection of live entertainment and robotics to help design new tools and capabilities to enable autonomous experiences and dynamic shows featuring our characters. You will work with artists and engineers to develop software tools to author robotic performances that integrate on-board and off-board perception to support autonomous interactions. We are looking for proactive problem solvers with a strong foundation in robotics and a passion for innovation

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What you will do

You will…

Develop custom software tools to aid in the design of dynamic shows featuring multiple robotic characters

Integrate and test localization and perception modules that enable autonomous capabilities

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to refine software requirements

Document design iterations, perform end-to-end tests, and analyze results

What we are looking for

Experience developing planning, perception, and/or control software for robotic systems or game engines

Proficiency in Python

Ability to work independently and in a team environment

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with character animation and/or animation tooling including Unreal or Maya

Familiarity with robot orchestration and/or behavior authoring for autonomous multi-agent systems

Experience developing and deploying custom models for perception, localization, or navigation

Familiarity developing and debugging complex systems using logging and introspection tools

Required Education

Currently enrolled as a Junior or higher at an accredited college/university, earning a degree in Robotics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.

This internship will be from August/September 2026 through December 2026. Must be fully available during this time period.

The pay rate for this role in Glendale, CA is $42 per hour for undergraduate and $47 per hour for graduate level. 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.

Job Posting Segment:

WDI R&D and Tech Studio

Job Posting Primary Business:

R&D and Tech Studio (WDI)

Primary Job Posting Category:

Technology Intern

Employment Type:

Full time

Primary City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Glendale, CA, USA

Alternate City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Date Posted:

2026-07-09