Walt Disney Imagineering · 12 hours ago
Senior Research Scientist
Glendale, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
$188K/yr - $253K/yr
5+ years expWalt Disney Imagineering is dedicated to creating magical experiences through innovative technology. They are seeking a Senior Research Scientist to lead research in generative AI and human-robot interaction, focusing on developing systems for interactive robotic applications in themed entertainment.
Web DesignWeb Development
Responsibilities
Conduct original research in HRI reinforcement learning, focusing on interaction, decision-making, agentic behavior, and world- and interlocutor responsiveness
Develop RL learning policies and algorithms that enhance the blend of creative and physics-compliant robotic characters
Prototype generative systems that support creative workflows for experience development
Evaluate SOTA generative AI models and techniques for feasibility, fidelity, and integration into creative pipelines
Collaborate with internal and external research partners, including academic institutions, industry labs, and vendors
Translate scientific insights into working prototypes that bridge creative design and real-world implementation
Mentor junior researchers and contribute to the technical direction of robotics initiatives within the lab
Qualification
Required
5+ years of post-doctoral research experience in HRI, CHI, reinforcement learning, machine learning, or robotics with published work in top-tier conferences/journals (e.g. HRI, CHI, SIGGRAPH, IROS, NeurIPS, etc.)
Demonstrated ability to bridge theoretical research with real-world implementation
Deep expertise in human-robot interaction, with a focus on behavior, verbal and non-verbal communication, and world- and interlocutor-responsiveness
Expertise in reinforcement learning for reasoning and interaction
Expertise in generative models in both the vision and language space
Proficiency in PyTorch, Python, C++
Strong communication skills with the ability to present complex ideas to multidisciplinary teams
A desire to work in a creative environment where technical and creative experts collaborate and challenge each other every day to achieve truly groundbreaking solutions
PhD required in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computational Design, or a related field, with specialization in AI/ML or Robotics
Preferred
Track record of technology transfer, patents, or deployed robotic control systems
Contributions to open-source projects or prior work in research labs or innovation teams
Familiarity with the hospitality, theme park, entertainment industries, or other directly guest/user-facing robot applications is a plus
Benefits
Health and savings benefits
Educational opportunities
Special extras that only Disney can provide
Company
Walt Disney Imagineering
Walt Disney Imagineering is the design and development arm of The Walt Disney Company.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Walt Disney Imagineering has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (83)
2024 (63)
2023 (96)
2022 (130)
2021 (30)
2020 (40)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Kyle Laughlin
Senior Vice President, R&D Technology and Engineering
Recent News
The Orlando Sentinel
2025-11-27
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