Controls Engineer

About the Role & Team

We create happiness.” That’s our motto at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, and it permeates everything we do. At Disney, you’ll help encourage that magic by enabling our company to push the limits and build the never-before-seen! Are you ready to join this team and make an impact?

As a Controls Engineer, you will have the opportunity to work on the Show Control aspect of Registered Attractions for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts.  You will be hands-on in the design, development, installation, and sustainment of show control systems—including programming, editing, and troubleshooting PLC software code used to orchestrate Audio-Visual elements, show action equipment, and themed automation. Your work will involve real-time integration with sensors, media playback devices, and operator interfaces. Additionally, you’ll support hardware-level diagnostics and repairs, ensuring consistent and safe performance of show systems across the resort. You’ll operate in a fast-paced environment where priorities shift quickly, providing technical leadership in the design and sustainment of Show Control systems. This includes resolving Show Control and automation issues, assessing system-level risks, and driving forward technical projects—from concept through implementation—that enable seamless integration and installation. The ideal candidate is passionate about safety, technology, service provider work environments, and machine learning. 

The Controls Engineer will be responsible for engineering support across the Disneyland Resort, with a focus on modernizing legacy show control systems. This includes leading efforts to troubleshoot aging infrastructure, address technical obsolescence, and incorporate emerging technologies into existing platforms. You'll guide multidisciplinary teams in resolving system failures, improving reliability, and documenting upgrades, while responding to urgent control and mechanical issues that impact attraction availability.

This is a 30-month project hire role, entirely on-site, based in Anaheim, CA, and will report to the Manager, Show Control.

What You Will Do

• Support the full lifecycle of control system projects: scoping, design, installation, testing, and training.

• Assist in defining and implementing reliability improvement initiatives for attractions.

• Help identify systems and equipment that meet design criteria and relevant codes and standards.

• Contribute to troubleshooting, performance enhancements, and system reliability efforts.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams—including Engineering, Operations, and Facility Asset Management—during design and commissioning phases.

• Track downtime trends and assist in pinpointing areas for reliability optimization.

• Monitor control system behavior to ensure performance aligns with expectations.

• Troubleshoot and communicate at both the system and component level when needed.

• Help coordinate scheduling and execution of technical tasks related to controls engineering.

• Aid in resolving issues with PLC software and hardware in complex show environments.

• Work closely with maintenance and operations teams to gather insights and support improvement efforts.

• Ensure design compliance with applicable standards and codes (IEEE, NFPA, ASTM, DOSH, NEC/CEC).

• Follow departmental change management protocols and procedures.

• Stay updated on developments in show control technologies, tools, and materials to inform design choices.

• Available to work off-hours or third shifts as needed to support live attractions and scheduled projects.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Familiarity with control systems in amusement park or industrial/manufacturing environments (2+ years).

• Understanding of communication protocols: Ethernet, TCP/IP, EtherCAT, CANopen.

•  Exposure to electrical motor controls, including variable frequency drives and soft starts.

• Basic knowledge of signal processing and motor control principles

• Awareness of National and California Electrical Code and its application in system design.

• Introduction to certifications like UL, TUV, ETL.

• Ability to use AutoCAD for panel layout, interconnects, and basic assemblies.

• Able to develop manufacturing drawings based on design specifications.

• Working knowledge of object-oriented programming (e.g., C/C++).

• Familiar with IEC 61131-3 PLC programming languages: Ladder Logic, Python, Structured Text, Function Block Diagram, etc.

• General understanding of ANSI, ASTM, and IEEE standards.

• Exposure to automation tools including Beckhoff TwinCAT, Rockwell, Alcorn McBride, and TAIT Navigator.

• Participated in software testing and system commissioning.

Preferred Qualifications:

• California Professional Registration

• 2+ years of show systems installation experience

• Hands-on experience with industrial automation PLCs such as Beckhoff TwinCAT, Allen Bradley, Siemens, Mitsubishi

• Knowledge gained by experience in the following:

Controls circuit design and/or troubleshooting Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory certifications such as UL, TUV, ETL Audio/Visual systems Experience with animation hardware (pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric) Experience in servo control system programming and tuning. Scripting in C, VB, JS, C#, Python, etc.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or equivalent.

• Preferred: Master’s of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or equivalent.

Additional Information:

Disney offers a rewards package to help you live your best life. This includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities, and special extras that only Disney can provide. Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.

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• The hiring range for this position in Anaheim, CA is $104,600.00 to $127,800.00 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.