1

Executive Animatronics Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Executive Animatronics information

See salary details

$26.5K

$93.6K

$184K

How much do executive animatronics jobs pay per year?

As of May 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for executive animatronics in the United States is $93,552.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $58,000.00 and $120,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Executive Animatronics professional, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Executive Animatronics professional, you need a solid background in mechanical engineering, robotics, and project management, often supported by a degree in engineering or a related field. Familiarity with CAD software, PLC programming, and control systems, as well as certifications like PMP, are typically required. Strong leadership, problem-solving skills, and effective communication make candidates stand out in this multidisciplinary role. These skills are vital to ensure the successful design, implementation, and management of complex animatronic projects within deadlines and budgets.

What are some common challenges faced by Executive Animatronics professionals in managing large-scale entertainment projects?

Executive Animatronics professionals often encounter challenges related to coordinating multidisciplinary teams, ensuring seamless integration of advanced robotics with creative design, and adhering to strict project timelines. Balancing technical feasibility with artistic vision requires constant communication between engineers, designers, and project managers. Additionally, overseeing the maintenance and reliability of animatronic systems in high-traffic environments can be demanding, making strong problem-solving and leadership skills essential for success in this role.

What are Executive Animatronics?

Executive Animatronics are highly advanced, life-like robotic figures used primarily in theme parks, entertainment venues, and corporate settings to represent executives, mascots, or characters. These animatronics are engineered with sophisticated mechanics and programming to mimic human gestures, facial expressions, and speech, often for public presentations or immersive experiences. The role of an Executive Animatronics specialist typically involves designing, building, and maintaining these robots, as well as programming their movements and interactions. This job requires expertise in robotics, engineering, and sometimes artistic skills for realistic finishes. Executive Animatronics can enhance corporate events, attractions, and branding presentations by providing engaging and memorable experiences.

What is the difference between Executive Animatronics vs Animatronics Technician?

AspectExecutive AnimatronicsAnimatronics Technician
CredentialsRelevant certifications, experience in design and project managementTechnical certifications, hands-on skills in maintenance and repair
Work EnvironmentDesign studios, client meetings, project planningTheme parks, entertainment venues, maintenance workshops
Industry UsageLeads design, oversees projects, manages teamsBuilds, maintains, and repairs animatronic figures

Executive Animatronics professionals focus on design, project management, and overseeing animatronic projects, often working in planning and client interactions. In contrast, Animatronics Technicians handle the hands-on building, maintenance, and repair of animatronic figures. Both roles are essential in the industry but differ in responsibilities, skills, and work environments.

More about Executive Animatronics jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Animatronics jobs? The most popular types of Animatronics jobs are:
What states have the most Executive Animatronics jobs? States with the most job openings for Executive Animatronics jobs include:
Infographic showing various Executive Animatronics job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, and 4% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $93,552 per year, or $45 per hour.
Operational Technology Network Engineer, Technical Infrastructure

Operational Technology Network Engineer, Technical Infrastructure

The Walt Disney Company

Glendale, CA

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago


Walt Disney Company rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 124 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 47 rated entertainment


Job description

Job Posting Title:

Operational Technology Network Engineer, Technical Infrastructure

Req ID:

10151059

Job Description:

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.

Technical Infrastructure (TI) within a Disney attraction, ride, show, or other venue is a unified system of data networks, cybersecurity systems, local compute and storage, precision timekeeping, monitoring, logging, virtualization, and other foundational components and functions. Show and ride systems that are built on top of this technical infrastructure include audio, video, projection, lighting, animatronics, show action, special effects, show sequencing, ride control, and show control.

You will report to Executive Show Systems Architecture.

This is a Full-Time role.

What You Will Do:

The Operational Technology Network Engineer, Technical Infrastructure performs design, engineering, and implementation of technical infrastructure (TI) systems, working in a highly collaborative setting with specialty designers and engineers representing each Imagineering discipline. The role spans early project development through high-level and detailed design, production, field installation, and project final delivery and support.

As an Operational Technology Network Engineer, Technical Infrastructure, you will:

  • Design and implement attraction and venue networks.

  • Work with partner teams to gather requirements and create network solutions.

  • Compile network designs and specifications for facility engineering deliverables.

  • Coordinate TI equipment and port placement in attraction spaces.

  • Collaborate with telecom and IT teams on network connections and wireless coordination.

  • Apply Disney and industry-standard software components to projects.

  • Develop shared compute, storage, and platform services for each project.

  • Integrate networks with ride, show, and facility systems during design and deployment.

  • Work with ride control engineering to implement ride-show networks, vehicle networks, and OT wireless systems.

  • Update and document standard architectures for attraction TI networks, addressing project-specific exceptions.

Required Qualifications & Skills:

  • Expertise with network systems, including physical infrastructure, switching, routing, VLANs, and network security

  • Understanding of accepted practices for cabling, cable termination, cable testing, and rack/cabinet layout and cable routing

  • Ability to read and edit engineering diagrams

  • Comfort with both design-focused and hands-on work

  • Strong diagnostic and troubleshooting skills for network and systems issues

  • Experience specifying and deploying network and computing hardware

  • Proficiency configuring network devices via command line interface and configuration files

  • Technical understanding of Ethernet, IP, and ICMP protocols, as well as common higher-level network protocols

  • Experience with server and computer system administration, especially Linux-based and/or Unix-like operating systems

  • Strong ability to communicate effectively through written documentation and in person

Desired Qualifications & Skills:

  • Experience with industrial network and computing devices (PLCs, network I/O, securing industrial networks)

  • Experience with optical fiber, including methods of termination, cable routing, and best design/handling practices

  • Experience with wireless networks, particularly as used in industrial and/or entertainment applications

  • Aptitude with packet dissection methods and tools for troubleshooting

  • Knowledge of QoS mechanisms, multicast, PTP, DNS, MPLS, and other advanced networking topics

  • Knowledge of and experience deploying system and network operations software tools such as performance analytics, event logging, IDS, endpoint protection, containerization platforms, IPAM/DNS, log analysis, alerting, etc.

  • Experience with entertainment technologies and network protocols (DMX, sACN, Dante, AES-67, ST-2110, etc.)

  • Knowledge of specific industrial control systems (TwinCAT, RS Logix, etc.) and industrial network protocols (Modbus, EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, PROFInet, etc.)

  • Knowledge of WAN technologies such as NAT, routing protocols, VPN, and SDWAN/overlay networks

  • Experience with Cisco network products

  • Cybersecurity expertise and experience with firewall products

  • Software development experience, especially with real-time systems

  • Prior experience in the themed entertainment industry (operations, engineering, construction, etc.)

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Industrial Automation, or Information Technology, or equivalent professional experience, required.

The hiring range for this position in Glendale, CA is $129,300 to $208,700 per year based on a 40-hour work week. The number of hours scheduled per week may vary based on business needs. The base pay 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:

WDI Creative Development

Job Posting Primary Business:

Show Systems (WDI)

Primary Job Posting Category:

Systems Engineer

Employment Type:

Full time

Primary City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Glendale, CA, USA

Alternate City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Date Posted:

2026-05-14

What Walt Disney Company employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


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

Social media