WDI Research & Development Intern-Technical Project Management, Summer 2026

Job Summary:

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 Technical Project Manager Intern partners with Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development (WDI R&D) Technical Program Managers (TPMs), Imagineers, and project leads to support the development of next‑generation ideas, tools, technologies, and experiences. This internship provides hands-on exposure to technical project execution in an R&D environment, supporting the transition of early innovation into tangible prototypes and platforms that inspire Imagineers and delight guests around the world.

This role blends foundational project management skills with technical curiosity, strong communication, and a passion for innovation within a creative, multidisciplinary studio.

What You’ll Learn/Deliver

• Build and maintain scope, budget, and schedule artifacts for projects
• Run effective meeting logistics (agendas, notes, actions) and follow-through to closure.
• Produce clear weekly status updates that highlight progress, risks, and next steps.
• Practice stakeholder communication across technical and creative partners.
• Support vendor/partner coordination and deliverable tracking when applicable.

What You Will Do

• Support TPMs and project leads across multiple technical initiatives; functionally report into TPM leadership and be matrixed into assigned projects.
• Assist in producing and maintaining scope, budget, and schedule artifacts for projects.
• Coordinate and facilitate collaboration between team members, studio partners, suppliers, and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate information and deliverables with internal and external suppliers and partners.
• Help drive the communication plan to team members, project leads, executives, and stakeholders (status, decisions, and action tracking).
• Organize and maintain detailed task tracking systems for complex, technical projects.
• Contribute to the culture and community of the WDI R&D Studio.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail
• Ability to translate high‑level ideas into actionable tasks with guidance
• Clear written and verbal communication skills
• Collaborative mindset and comfort working with diverse, multidisciplinary teams
• Positive attitude with a strong sense of ownership and accountability

Preferred Qualifications & Skills

• Exposure to project management tools (e.g., Jira, Smartsheet, Asana, MS Project, or similar)
• Familiarity with agile, waterfall, or hybrid development methodologies
• Academic or personal experience in mechanical, electrical, software, or systems engineering
• Interest in robotics, immersive experiences, prototyping, or emerging technologies
• Prior internship, research, or team‑based project experience

Education

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in engineering, computer science, project management, or a related technical field

Eligibility Requirements & Program Information

• Be enrolled in an accredited college/university pursuing a degree taking at least one class at time of application posting OR currently participating in a Disney College Program or Disney Internship​
• Be at least 18 years of age​
• Possess unrestricted work authorization​
• Have not completed one year of continual employment on a Disney internship or Disney College Program

Additional Information

• 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 internship program​ in the Glendale, CA area
• Able to provide/have reliable transportation to/from work​

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