Graphic Designer Principal

About the Role and Team

Walt Disney Imagineering is the creative organization behind Disney’s theme parks, resorts, attractions, and cruise ships around the world. Its teams bring together storytelling, art, science, and technology to create immersive guest experiences and distinctive destinations.

Innovation is central to the work at Imagineering. Projects often involve first-of-their-kind ideas, and the team is known for pushing technical and creative boundaries to solve new challenges. The work also has a broader purpose: shaping environments that inspire people and contribute positively to communities.

Environmental Graphic Designers at Imagineering create signage and show graphics that support the storytelling of Disney theme parks and resorts. In this principal-level role, you will guide the strategy, development, and delivery of environmental graphic and signage solutions for large, highly complex themed entertainment projects from early concept through construction.

You will report to the Studio Executive, Lighting and Graphics. This is a project hire role with no guarantee of permanent placement.

What You Will Do

• Lead environmental graphic design work on large and highly complex projects, including assignments that require advanced knowledge of sign codes, construction approaches, materials, and specifications.
• Create and oversee graphic signage fabrication and manufacturing specifications.
• Set project-specific graphic design standards and make sure work follows departmental and divisional standards of practice.
• Direct the creation of graphic scope for code-driven signage on domestic and international projects.
• Work with project leadership to coordinate, communicate, and refine graphic design strategies, issues, and solutions.
• Contribute advanced problem-solving to support project goals and develop effective design responses.
• Provide design leadership alongside creative leadership and park operations partners.
• Guide in-house designers and design services consultants as they develop design intent and contract documentation.
• Give art direction and leadership during fabrication and implementation in collaboration with art direction, project management, construction, and operations teams.
• Lead large groups of environmental graphic designers and consultants across multiple or highly complex projects.
• Assign work, review peer output, and uphold quality across the team’s deliverables.
• Prepare scopes of work, soft cost estimates, budgets, schedules, and strategies for fabrication and installation.
• Track team performance against schedule, budget, and earned value.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• At least 12 years of experience in environmental graphic design.
• At least 5 years of experience leading design teams in environmental graphic design or signage.
• Advanced knowledge of environmental graphic design and sign construction methods.
• Expert understanding of sign code requirements.
• Broad experience with materials, fabrication processes, and themed applications.
• Strong ability to plan complex work involving scheduling, budgeting, and staffing.
• Proven capacity to create and execute strategies for resolving difficult graphic design challenges.
• Leadership skills suited to managing large teams and shaping design direction.
• Ability to make high-level design decisions with little supervision.
• Strong communication skills and confidence representing the discipline in cross-functional settings.
• Hands-on knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, including Illustrator and Photoshop, as well as Bluebeam Revu and Microsoft Office tools such as Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Comfort working with architectural documents and using them in the design process.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of signage code requirements, including fire, safety, health, and ADA/ADAG standards.
• Ability to prepare fabrication and installation estimates from schematic design for complex projects.
• Experience shaping design direction in collaboration with project leadership.
• Strong understanding of theme park design, storytelling, and immersive environments.
• Experience developing strategies for large-scale environmental graphic design programs.
• Familiarity with Revit, AutoCAD, 3-D rendering tools, and PowerPoint is helpful but not required.

Education

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited program is required.

Additional Information

This position is a project hire role and does not come with a promise of continued or permanent employment.

Benefits and Compensation

Disney offers a rewards package that includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities, and other special perks. The hiring range for this role in Glendale, California is $115,500 to $154,800 per year. Actual base pay may vary based on internal equity, location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may also be included, along with the full range of medical, financial, and other benefits depending on the level and position offered.