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

The Walt Disney Company•Glendale, CA

23h•$42 - $47•Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

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.
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.