WDI Research & Development Intern - Creative Technologist, Summer 2026

The Walt Disney Company•Glendale, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

About our Program: Magic is Within You 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. The Creative Technologist Intern will design and implement technology driven experiences that provide the best possible guest experience What You Will Do Works with creative, design and engineering teams to design and execute experiences that come off the screen through concept, production, testing and deployment Applies technology to tell stories and solve user problems across a range of platforms and devices Informs the creative process by performing research and prototyping with the latest technologies Identifies opportunities for innovative experiences driven by new tools and technical advances Builds rapid prototypes, proof of concepts through production level code and hardware development Participates in scoping and planning work Presents and articulates experiences to internal stakeholders, internal audiences, and non-technical project participants Rapidly produces interim deliverables (such as style guide components, technical specifications, prototypes, proofs of concept, etc.)

Requirements

Participates in concept and ideation sessions
Develops innovative ways to tell stories and create user experiences
Conceptualizes user interactions and interfaces through iterative design process
Develops varying fidelity prototypes to demonstrate user interaction and interfaces (Adobe Creative Suite, 3D Modeling, Software Development, Crafting)
Incorporates user research and usability testing to iterate on solutions
Designs and develops custom software + hardware solutions
Develops previsualization and experiences using game engines (Unreal)
Develops real time generative graphics (Cinder/C++/OpenGL/WebGL/Metal)
Develops web technologies and tools (Javascript)
Develops firmware for integrated systems (Arduino)
Develops software for microcomputing platforms (Raspberry Pi, Edison, Jetson)
Develops native applications for Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
Designs and builds custom PCBs
Develops rapid prototypes (Cinder, openFrameworks, TouchDesigner, Processing)
Implements computer vision and other sensing capabilities (OpenCV, External Sensor Integration)
Currently enrolled as a Junior or higher, in an accredited college/university, earning a degree majoring in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Management Information Systems, Information Technology or related field.
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 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
Able to have a consistent, reliable work schedule throughout the internship
Fully available from Monday through Friday for the duration of the internship, 40 hours each week
Able to provide own housing for the duration of the internship program in the Glendale, CA area
Able to provide/have reliable transportation to/from work

Nice To Haves

Manages multiple campaigns/projects simultaneously
Communicates the product’s vision and articulate design decisions and trade-offs to partners and clients, both verbally and visually
Facilitates cross-functional collaboration across different areas

Responsibilities

Works with creative, design and engineering teams to design and execute experiences that come off the screen through concept, production, testing and deployment
Applies technology to tell stories and solve user problems across a range of platforms and devices
Informs the creative process by performing research and prototyping with the latest technologies
Identifies opportunities for innovative experiences driven by new tools and technical advances
Builds rapid prototypes, proof of concepts through production level code and hardware development
Participates in scoping and planning work
Presents and articulates experiences to internal stakeholders, internal audiences, and non-technical project participants
Rapidly produces interim deliverables (such as style guide components, technical specifications, prototypes, proofs of concept, etc.)
Participates in concept and ideation sessions
Develops innovative ways to tell stories and create user experiences
Conceptualizes user interactions and interfaces through iterative design process
Develops varying fidelity prototypes to demonstrate user interaction and interfaces (Adobe Creative Suite, 3D Modeling, Software Development, Crafting)
Incorporates user research and usability testing to iterate on solutions
Designs and develops custom software + hardware solutions
Develops previsualization and experiences using game engines (Unreal)
Develops real time generative graphics (Cinder/C++/OpenGL/WebGL/Metal)
Develops web technologies and tools (Javascript)
Develops firmware for integrated systems (Arduino)
Develops software for microcomputing platforms (Raspberry Pi, Edison, Jetson)
Develops native applications for Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
Designs and builds custom PCBs
Develops rapid prototypes (Cinder, openFrameworks, TouchDesigner, Processing)
Implements computer vision and other sensing capabilities (OpenCV, External Sensor Integration)