Senior Network Peering Engineer

Job Summary:

Department/Group Overview:

Disney Entertainment & ESPN Technology

• On any given day at Disney Entertainment & ESPN Technology, we’re reimagining ways to create magical viewing experiences for the world’s most beloved stories while also transforming Disney’s media business for the future. Whether that’s evolving our streaming and digital products in new and immersive ways, powering worldwide advertising and distribution to maximize flexibility and efficiency, or delivering Disney’s unmatched entertainment and sports content, every day is a moment to make a difference to partners and to hundreds of millions of people around the world.

Additional details to include (optional):

• Building the future of Disney’s media business: DE&E Technologists are designing and building the infrastructure that will power Disney’s media, advertising, and distribution businesses for years to come.
• Reach & Scale: The products and platforms this group builds and operates delight millions of consumers every minute of every day – from Disney+ and Hulu, to ABC News and Entertainment, to ESPN and ESPN+, and much more.
• Innovation: We develop and execute groundbreaking products and techniques that shape industry norms and enhance how audiences experience sports, entertainment & news.

Engineering Services

Engineering Services designs, builds, and sustains technology that powers DE&E Technology’s worldwide content production and distribution platforms. In doing so, they contribute to a series of cross-functional services and technologies, including Quality Assurance, Data Analytics, Software Development, Broadcast Infrastructure, and Networking & Security.

Job Summary:

• As a Senior Network Peering Engineer, you will play a critical role in the strategic management and optimization of our CDN. You will oversee peering relationships, interconnect agreements, and network performance, while also dedicating a portion of your time to classic network engineering tasks. Collaborating with internal teams, ISPs, and external vendors, you will ensure our content is delivered efficiently and cost-effectively. This role provides a unique opportunity to work on one of the most advanced content delivery platforms, combining strategic interconnect management with hands-on network engineering.

Responsibilities and Duties of the Role:

• Peering Strategy & Management
  • Develop and execute a global peering strategy aligned with company growth and performance objectives.
  • Manage and negotiate peering relationships with ISPs, content providers, and IXPs to enhance network reach and minimize transit costs.
  • Continuously monitor peering performance metrics and optimize configurations to ensure low-latency, high-quality content delivery.
• Interconnect & Vendor Management
  • Establish and manage interconnect agreements with key IXPs, data centers, and other service providers.
  • Negotiate SLAs, pricing, and contracts to ensure cost control and efficient content delivery.
  • Collaborate with external partners, carriers, and hardware vendors to resolve network and peering issues while ensuring continuous growth and network stability.
• Network Optimization
  • Analyze traffic patterns and performance data to optimize routing, peering, and interconnect strategies.
  • Implement traffic engineering techniques to enhance the efficiency of content delivery and improve network performance.
• Reporting and Analysis
  • Prepare regular reports on peering and interconnect performance, focusing on traffic volumes, costs, latency, and quality metrics.
  • Analyze trends and develop strategies for network optimization and cost-saving opportunities.
• Network Engineering
  • Perform hands-on network engineering tasks, including configuration, troubleshooting, and optimization of routing protocols such as BGP.
  • Engage in capacity planning, network design, and expansion projects for Disney Edge.
  • Troubleshoot network outages and performance issues, working with both internal teams and external partners to resolve issues quickly and efficiently.

Required Education, Experience/Skills/Training:

Basic Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in network operations, engineering, or related roles.
• Proven experience managing peering relationships and interconnect agreements at a global scale.
• Strong expertise in BGP and IP networking.
• Experience with large-scale multi-vendor networks (e.g., Arista, Cisco, Juniper) and the internet ecosystem, including interconnection, peering, and transit.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certifications such as CCNP, CCIE, JNCIE, or equivalent.
• Experience with live streaming infrastructure, CDN architectures, and peering platforms.

Experience with:

• Excellent troubleshooting and network analysis skills, with attention to detail in optimizing network performance.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills for working with external partners and vendors.
• Hands-on experience configuring and managing routing protocols and network devices in a large-scale environment.

Required Education  

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, a related field, or equivalent experience.

The hiring range for this position in Santa Monica, CA is $126,400 to $169,500 per year, in The Woodlands, TX is $120,400 to $161,400 per year, in San Antonio, TX is $120,400 to $161,400 per year, in Morrisville, NC is $120,400 to $161,400 per year, and in New York, NY is $132,500 to $177,600 per year. 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.