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Contract Disney Animation Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Contract Disney Animation information

What is a contract Disney animation artist?

Contract Disney Animation jobs are temporary positions at Walt Disney Animation Studios where individuals are hired for a specific duration or project rather than as permanent staff. These roles cover various areas such as animation, visual development, storyboarding, and technical support. Contract employees work alongside full-time staff to help complete feature films, shorts, or other animation projects. Contract terms can vary in length, and these positions often provide valuable industry experience and networking opportunities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract Disney animation artist?

To thrive as a Contract Disney Animation Artist, you typically need strong drawing and storytelling abilities, a solid understanding of animation principles, and a relevant degree or portfolio of work. Proficiency with industry-standard animation software such as Toon Boom Harmony, Adobe Creative Suite, or Autodesk Maya is often required. Creativity, collaboration, adaptability, and effective communication are essential soft skills for excelling in team-based, fast-paced production environments. These skills and qualifications ensure the delivery of high-quality animation that meets Disney's artistic standards and production timelines.

What are some common challenges faced by contract animators at Disney Animation, and how can they prepare for success?

Contract animators at Disney Animation often face the challenge of adapting quickly to established workflows and artistic styles while meeting tight production deadlines. Since contract roles are project-based, animators must be flexible and ready to collaborate closely with both creative teams and technical departments. Success in this environment requires strong communication skills, a willingness to receive and implement feedback, and the ability to manage time effectively. Demonstrating adaptability and a proactive approach to learning new tools or processes can help contract animators make a positive impression and potentially open up opportunities for longer-term engagement.

What is the difference between Contract Disney Animation vs Contract Pixar Animation?

AspectContract Disney AnimationContract Pixar Animation
Required CredentialsAnimation degree, portfolio, industry experienceAnimation degree, portfolio, industry experience
Work EnvironmentDisney studios, collaborative teams, creative settingPixar studios, collaborative teams, creative setting
Employer & Industry UsageMajor animation studio, entertainment industryMajor animation studio, entertainment industry
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared due to similar roles in animationOften compared due to similar project types

Contract Disney Animation and Contract Pixar Animation roles share similar credentials, work environments, and industry usage. Both involve working on high-profile animated projects within leading studios, making them common points of comparison for animation professionals seeking contract opportunities in top-tier entertainment companies.

How to get a job in Disney animation?

To get a job in Disney animation, candidates should develop strong skills in animation, illustration, or related fields, often through formal education or a portfolio showcasing their work. Relevant experience with industry-standard tools like Maya or Adobe Creative Suite and understanding of storytelling are also important; applying through Disney's careers website or industry networks can improve chances.

What are the most commonly searched types of Disney Animation jobs in California?

The most popular types of Disney Animation jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Contract Disney Animation jobs in California?

For Contract Disney Animation jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Contract Disney Animation jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Contract Disney Animation jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Contract Disney Animation jobs?

Cities in California with the most Contract Disney Animation job openings:

Infographic showing various Contract Disney Animation job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, and 20% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Senior Network Engineer (Project Hire)

Burbank, CA • On-site


The Walt Disney Company
Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation • 10K+ employees

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 129 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

4th of 52 rated entertainment

People enjoy working here

Good employer

Recommended by students


$111K - $152K/yr

Full-time

Posted 29 days ago


Job description

Job Posting Title:

Senior Network Engineer (Project Hire)

Req ID:

10157158

Job Description:

At Walt Disney Animation Studios, we believe that creativity inspires technology, and technology inspires creativity. The Platform and Infrastructure group within the Technology department is responsible for the design, implementation, and support of the critical infrastructure behind the content our studio creates. We are looking for a Senior Network Engineer to join the Network Services team. The team is responsible for the ongoing installation, monitoring, support, and maintenance of data networks inside and outside our Burbank and Vancouver studio locations as well as cloud providers. This includes in-depth system analysis, design, troubleshooting, and integration of new products, as well as developing tools and strategies to improve existing systems.

Role Overview

You will enjoy the diversity and challenges of working across every level of the tech stack, engaging with team members and stakeholders on a variety of initiatives depending on the Studio's needs. You'll need to demonstrate self-direction, while also supporting your team with fresh insight for shared problem-solving, and building trusted relationships with technical and non-technical users to understand their challenges and deliver the right solutions. You'll provide technical support, including 24x7 operational coverage, along with the skills to select, connect, configure, and troubleshoot a range of networking devices and routing architectures.

Our studio thrives on a wide variety of technical backgrounds and experiences; therefore, we encourage applicants to apply even if they do not match all requirements listed below. Bring your unique talents and ideas to our team, and join Disney's creative legacy.

Responsibilities

Partner closely with stakeholders and technical teams to deploy, manage, and optimize systems and services on our on-premises network infrastructure and/or cloud environments

Install and configure networking technology from multiple manufacturers including Cisco (IOS), Cisco Nexus (NXOS), Arista, Aruba Clearpass, and Palo Alto Networks

Configure networking for systems across multiple operating systems including Linux, macOS, Windows, Virtual Machines/containers, mobile devices, and scale-out storage clusters

Act as a collaborator with the larger Technology team on issues of network security and performance

Participate actively in team discussions and work with leadership to continually improve procedures and policies across the studio

Provide guidance to neighboring teams on technical challenges from design to implementation

Conduct high-level root-cause analysis for service interruptions and establish preventive measures

Publish and maintain detailed documentation regarding our processes and workflows

Manage product support and maintenance contracts, engage closely with vendors, and work with leadership on the yearly budget for networking needs

Requirements

Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or another related technical field, or equivalent work experience

5+ years of experience designing and implementing network solutions for large-scale, high-performance compute and storage environments

Expert-level knowledge of:

  • Layer 1 technologies: Structured cabling systems, CWDM, and DWDM Optical networking
  • Layer 2 protocols: Ethernet (1, 10, 40, 50, 100, and 400 Gbps), Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation Control Protocol (MLAG & LACP), Virtual Port-Channel (VPC), VLAN Tagging (802.1Q), LLDP (802.1AB), Network Access Control, and Dynamic VLAN Assignment (via 802.1X), and Wireless (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
  • Layer 3 routing & technologies: EIGRP, BGP, OSPF, and VPNs (IPsec/SSL)
  • Layer 4 network services & protocols: PXE, NAT, DHCP, DNS, NFS, NTP, SNMP, LDAP, HTTP, SQL, and RTP

Knowledge of Linux, macOS, or other Unix-based Operating Systems

Strong knowledge of access control systems and protocols including TACACS and RADIUS

Expertise with network analysis and performance tools, TCPDump, Wireshark, TTCP, IPerf, IXIA, SNMP, Netflow, and Zabbix

Experience with the installation and configuration of industry-leading inter-networking technologies such as Cisco, Palo Alto, Arista, Infoblox, Aruba Clearpass, etc.

Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills

Ability to multitask in a highly complex, diverse production environment

Highly self-directed, with the ability to both manage and prioritize multiple concurrent and competing challenges, ambiguities, and contradictions that inevitably occur when supporting live production

Preferred Qualifications

Proficient in software development methodologies and processes; including agile methods, continuous integration, and version control

Cisco CCNA/CCNP, Palo Alto PCNSA

Prior experience working in a Media, Entertainment, Games, or Animation production environment

The hiring range for this position in California is $129,300.00-$173,300.00 per year based on a 40 hour work week. The amount of hours scheduled per week may vary based on business needs. 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.

Job Posting Segment:

TWDSTECH

Job Posting Primary Business:

Technology- Infrastructure & Media

Primary Job Posting Category:

Network Engineer

Employment Type:

Full time

Primary City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Burbank, CA, USA

Alternate City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Date Posted:

2026-07-29

Walt Disney logo

About Walt Disney

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Disney, we're storytellers. We make the impossible, possible. We do this through utilizing and developing cutting-edge technology and pushing the envelope to bring stories to life through our movies, products, interactive games, parks and resorts, and media networks. Now is your chance to join our talented team that delivers unparalleled creative content to audiences around the world. "We create happiness." That's our motto at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. And it permeates everything we do. At Disney, you'll help inspire that magic by enabling our teams to push the limits of entertainment and create the never-before-seen!

Industry

Amusement, gambling, and recreation

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Burbank, CA, US

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Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

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