Are you an upcoming or recent graduate with a background in computer science, engineering, technology or another related technical field and an interest in product management?

The Disney Associate Product Manager Program 2027 offers an opportunity to begin a career in product management within Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology, one of the technology organisations responsible for developing and supporting products and platforms across Disney’s global media business.

The programme is structured as a two-year career accelerator designed to develop early-career product management talent through practical experience, formal training, mentorship, networking and exposure to different product teams.

Full-time hires for the programme will begin as a cohort in Summer 2027. Participants will also complete a team rotation at the 12-month mark, giving them exposure to multiple teams and product domains.

The position is currently listed for Glendale, California, and New York, New York, with the primary location identified as the Greater Los Angeles area. The final location and team placement will depend on business needs and team alignment at the time an offer is made.

The role was posted by Disney on September 15, 2026, under Job ID 10160554.

About the Disney Associate Product Manager Program

The Associate Product Manager, or APM, Program is intended to provide a structured entry point into product management for talented early-career professionals.

Rather than simply placing a new graduate into an entry-level position without structured development, Disney describes the programme as a two-year career accelerator.

The programme combines:

• Full-time employment.
• Hands-on product development experience.
• Structured product management training.
• Mentorship from Disney product leaders.
• Cross-functional collaboration.
• Data and user research.
• Strategic problem-solving.
• Leadership development.
• Professional networking.
• Exposure to multiple product teams through a rotation.

New hires will join the programme as a cohort in Summer 2027. After the first 12 months, participants will rotate to another team, allowing them to experience different product domains and broaden their understanding of product management.

This structure is particularly relevant to graduates who want to develop a career that combines technology, business strategy, user experience, data analysis and product development.

About Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology

The Associate Product Manager Program sits within Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology.

This is a global organisation made up of professionals working across areas such as:

• Engineering.
• Product development.
• Design.
• Technology.
• Data science.
• Product management.
• Digital platforms.
• Media technology.

The organisation’s work supports Disney’s media businesses and its portfolio of brands and platforms.

According to the job description, teams collaborate across brands including:

• Disney+
• Hulu
• ESPN
• ABC
• ABC News
• National Geographic
• Marvel
• Star Wars

The broader purpose is to combine technology and creativity to build products, improve consumer experiences and develop the technological infrastructure supporting Disney’s media business around the world.

For an aspiring product manager, this means the programme offers exposure to an environment where technology and entertainment intersect.

What Makes the Disney APM Program Different?

The role is designed around development rather than simply assigning graduates routine tasks.

The programme gives participants an opportunity to learn how products are conceived, developed, launched and improved.

Disney highlights three broad aspects of its technology and product environment:

Building the Future of Media

Disney’s technology teams work on platforms that support media, advertising and distribution.

This means product professionals can work on technology that contributes to how audiences discover, access and interact with content.

Reach, Scale and Impact

The products developed by Disney’s technology organisation support interactions with millions of consumers around the world.

For an APM, this provides the possibility of learning how product decisions operate at significant scale.

Innovation

Disney’s technology teams work on new products and platforms and address complex technical and business challenges.

The APM programme therefore provides exposure to product development in a large global media and entertainment organisation.

Two-Year Career Accelerator Structure

One of the central features of the opportunity is its two-year structure.

Year One: Building Product Management Foundations

During the initial stage, participants will develop practical experience working with product teams.

They can expect exposure to areas such as:

• Product discovery.
• Product requirements.
• User stories.
• Market research.
• Data analysis.
• Product strategy.
• Roadmap development.
• Feature development.
• Launch planning.
• Cross-functional collaboration.

The programme also provides structured training and mentorship.

Year Two: Team Rotation and Broader Product Exposure

At the 12-month mark, participants will rotate teams.

The purpose of the rotation is to provide exposure to multiple teams and product domains.

This can help participants develop a broader understanding of:

• Different types of products.
• Different customer or user needs.
• Different technical environments.
• Different business objectives.
• Different product development approaches.
• Cross-functional team structures.

The rotation is an important part of the programme because product management can vary considerably depending on the product, customers, technology and business model.

What Will an Associate Product Manager Do?

The role is formally positioned as Product Manager I (APM).

The successful candidate will assist with the development and execution of product strategies designed to support business objectives.

The role involves working throughout the product lifecycle, from discovery and research through development and launch.

The position provides opportunities to learn from experienced product professionals while contributing to projects within The Walt Disney Company.

Key Responsibilities

The APM will work across several aspects of product management.

1. Collaborate With Product, Design and Engineering Teams

The APM will work with:

• Product Managers.
• Designers.
• Engineers.
• Other cross-functional stakeholders.

The objective is to help develop features within an assigned product domain.

This requires the ability to communicate effectively with people who have different professional backgrounds and responsibilities.

2. Develop Product Strategy

Participants will learn how to develop and communicate a strategic vision.

This includes thinking about:

• User needs.
• Business objectives.
• Market trends.
• Product opportunities.
• Fan engagement.
• Product improvements.

The role therefore goes beyond simply managing a list of technical tasks.

3. Write Product Requirements

The APM will write detailed product documentation.

This can include:

• Product requirements.
• User stories.
• Feature documentation.
• Strategy documents.
• Other materials used to guide development.

Strong writing and communication skills are therefore important.

4. Work on OKRs and Product Roadmaps

The APM will work with leadership on:

• Product strategy.
• Objectives and Key Results.
• Product roadmaps.

This introduces participants to the strategic planning side of product management.

5. Conduct Market and Competitor Research

Product managers need to understand the environment in which their products operate.

The APM will support product research by analysing competitor offerings.

This can help the product team understand:

• What competing products offer.
• How user experiences compare.
• Where opportunities for improvement exist.
• How market trends may affect product decisions.

6. Analyse Data

The role includes basic data analysis to inform product decisions.

Examples include analysing:

• Usage metrics.
• User behaviour.
• Product performance.
• Other relevant data.

The objective is to use evidence to understand problems and support product decisions.

7. Support Product Launches

The APM will contribute to feature launches and internal communications.

This provides experience with the transition from product development to implementation and release.

Skills Disney Is Looking For

The job posting identifies several basic qualifications.

Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills

Applicants should have strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

The ability to use data-driven insights to inform decisions and measure performance is particularly important.

A strong candidate should therefore be comfortable asking:

• What problem are we solving?
• What does the available data tell us?
• How are users behaving?
• What should we improve?
• How can we measure whether an improvement worked?

Communication Skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.

Product managers frequently serve as a bridge between technical and non-technical stakeholders.

They need to communicate:

• Product requirements.
• Strategy.
• User needs.
• Business objectives.
• Product decisions.
• Roadmaps.
• Priorities.

Product or Technical Experience

Disney does not require applicants to have already worked as professional product managers.

The posting accepts experience gained through:

• Coursework.
• Academic projects.
• Internships.

Relevant areas include:

• Product management.
• Engineering.
• Software development.
• User experience.

This makes the programme particularly relevant to students and recent graduates who have developed practical experience through university or internships.

Understanding User Value

Applicants should be able to recognise what makes a product valuable to users.

Product management is fundamentally concerned with creating products that solve meaningful problems for users while also meeting organisational objectives.

Candidates should therefore demonstrate an interest in:

• User needs.
• User experience.
• Product quality.
• Product improvement.
• Business outcomes.

Interest in Technology and Product Development

The role requires an interest in:

• Product development.
• User experience.
• Technology.

Applicants do not necessarily need to be software engineers, but they should be comfortable working in a technology-driven environment.

Adaptability

The Disney environment is described as dynamic and fast-paced.

Candidates should be capable of learning quickly and adapting when priorities change.

This is particularly relevant to product management because product priorities can change based on:

• User feedback.
• Data.
• Business priorities.
• Market conditions.
• Technical constraints.
• Competitor activity.

Collaboration

Product management is highly collaborative.

The successful candidate will work across different functions and must be able to build strong professional relationships.

Disney therefore seeks applicants with a collaborative mindset and the ability to work effectively in team-oriented environments.

Educational Requirements

The required education is:

An upcoming or recent graduate with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or a related technical field.

Relevant related fields may include disciplines closely connected to technology, software, engineering or other technical product-development areas.

Applicants should carefully assess whether their academic programme falls within the “related technical field” requirement.

The vacancy does not state that applicants must have a specific number of years of professional experience. Instead, it specifically accommodates upcoming and recent graduates, with relevant experience potentially coming from coursework, projects and internships.

Learn More HERE

Who Should Consider Applying?

The programme may be relevant to students and recent graduates who want to build careers in:

• Product management.
• Technology.
• Digital products.
• Software.
• User experience.
• Product strategy.
• Data-informed decision-making.
• Technology-enabled media.
• Consumer technology.
• Digital entertainment.

A candidate might come from a computer science programme, engineering programme or another technical discipline and have developed product-management interests through an internship, university project, student organisation or independent product project.

Salary and Compensation

The listed hiring range for the position in Los Angeles is:

US$97,500 to US$130,700 per year.

The actual base salary offered can vary based on factors including:

• Internal equity.
• Geographic region.
• Job-related knowledge.
• Skills.
• Experience.
• Other relevant considerations.

Disney also states that a bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package.

Additional medical, financial and other benefits may also apply depending on the level and position offered.

Applicants should therefore distinguish between the advertised salary range and the compensation package ultimately offered to an individual candidate.

Location of the Associate Product Manager Program

The job is listed for:

Glendale, California, United States

and

New York, New York, United States.

The posting identifies the Greater Los Angeles, California area as the primary location, while additional opportunities may be available in New York. Final location and team placement will be determined at the time of the offer according to business needs and team alignment.

Candidates should therefore be open to the locations listed in the vacancy.

Start Date

Full-time new hires for the programme will start as a cohort in:

Summer 2027

This means the opportunity is intended for candidates preparing to transition from university into a full-time professional product-management career.

Is There an Application Deadline?

The supplied Disney vacancy does not state a specific application closing date.

The position was posted on September 15, 2026, and applicants should therefore check the official Disney Careers listing regularly because job postings can change or close when recruitment needs are met.

Candidates interested in the programme should not assume that the position will remain open until a particular future date.

Disney’s Approach to Diversity and Inclusion

Disney states that Disney Entertainment & Sports LLC is an equal opportunity employer.

According to the vacancy, applicants are considered without regard to factors including:

• Race.
• Religion.
• Colour.
• Sex.
• Sexual orientation.
• Gender identity.
• Gender expression.
• National origin.
• Ancestry.
• Age.
• Marital status.
• Military or veteran status.
• Medical condition.
• Genetic information.
• Disability.
• Other bases prohibited by applicable law.

The company also states that it welcomes job seekers with disabilities and veterans with disabilities.

This information describes Disney’s stated employment policy; applicants should separately verify any work-authorization or immigration requirements that may apply to employment in the United States.

How to Prepare for the Disney APM Application

Candidates can take several practical steps before applying.

1. Build a Product-Focused Resume

A technical degree alone may not demonstrate product-management potential.

Applicants should highlight projects and experiences that demonstrate:

• Problem-solving.
• User research.
• Product thinking.
• Data analysis.
• Technical knowledge.
• Leadership.
• Communication.
• Teamwork.
• Project execution.

If you have completed a university project that involved identifying a user problem and developing a technology-based solution, explain your role and the outcome clearly.

2. Highlight Relevant Internships

Relevant internships can demonstrate exposure to:

• Product development.
• Software.
• Engineering.
• UX.
• Data.
• Technology.
• Business strategy.

Applicants should explain what they actually accomplished rather than simply listing the internship title.

3. Demonstrate Data Skills

The APM role involves data analysis.

Candidates should therefore highlight experience with:

• Data interpretation.
• Metrics.
• User behaviour.
• Analytics.
• Research.
• Evidence-based decision-making.

Where appropriate, applicants can describe specific projects in which data influenced a decision.

4. Show User-Centred Thinking

Product managers need to understand users.

Candidates should demonstrate that they can think about:

• Who the user is.
• What problem the user faces.
• Why the problem matters.
• What solution could address it.
• How success would be measured.

5. Prepare for Product Management Interviews

Applicants should be prepared to discuss product-related problems and explain how they would approach them.

Useful areas to practise include:

• Product design.
• Product strategy.
• User research.
• Prioritisation.
• Metrics.
• Market analysis.
• Competitor research.
• Product launches.
• Stakeholder management.
• Communication.

Candidates should be prepared to explain their reasoning rather than simply provide an answer.

How to Demonstrate Product Thinking

A useful way to structure responses to product questions is to begin with the user and the problem.

For example:

1. Identify the target user.
2. Define the problem.
3. Understand why the problem matters.
4. Identify potential solutions.
5. Consider technical and business constraints.
6. Prioritise possible solutions.
7. Define success metrics.
8. Consider how the product would be tested.
9. Measure results.
10. Improve the product based on evidence.

This type of structured thinking aligns with the responsibilities described in the Disney APM role, including product research, user insights, strategy, roadmaps and data analysis.

Understanding the Disney Product Environment

One distinctive feature of the role is the scale and diversity of the company’s media ecosystem.

Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology supports products and platforms associated with major Disney brands and media properties.

The vacancy describes an environment where technology is used to:

• Improve storytelling.
• Build consumer experiences.
• Support media distribution.
• Support advertising.
• Develop digital platforms.
• Connect audiences with content.
• Solve complex technical challenges.

For a product-management candidate, this means the work can involve the intersection of technology, business, content and consumer behaviour.

Career Development and Mentorship

The APM programme includes structured training and mentorship from Disney product leaders.

This provides early-career professionals with access to people who have experience managing products and product teams.

The development experience includes learning opportunities focused on:

• Product management fundamentals.
• Strategic problem-solving.
• Leadership.
• Networking.
• Product strategy.
• Data-informed decision-making.

The two-year structure also provides time for participants to develop beyond a short-term internship experience.

Product Management Skills You Can Develop

Through the programme’s responsibilities and training structure, participants can develop skills across several areas.

Product Strategy

Understanding how product objectives connect with broader business goals.

Product Discovery

Learning how to identify user problems and opportunities.

User Research

Using user insights and behaviour to understand product needs.

Data Analysis

Using metrics and behavioural data to inform decisions.

Roadmapping

Helping teams determine which features and initiatives should be developed and when.

Product Requirements

Writing detailed requirements and user stories that help engineering and design teams execute.

Stakeholder Management

Working with product, design, engineering and leadership teams.

Communication

Explaining product strategy and decisions clearly to different audiences.

Launch Management

Supporting the process of taking features from development into launch.

Important Application Considerations

Before applying, candidates should carefully review the official vacancy and consider the following:

• The position is full-time.
• The programme begins in Summer 2027.
• It is structured as a two-year career accelerator.
• Team rotations occur after 12 months.
• The primary location is Greater Los Angeles.
• New York may also be available.
• Final team and location are determined at the time of offer.
• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or a related technical field is required.
• Relevant product, engineering, software or UX experience can come through coursework, projects or internships.
• The job posting does not provide a fixed application deadline.
• Salary and additional compensation depend on the final offer and relevant factors.

Visit HERE to learn more about the Disney Associate Product Manager Program 2027.

Key Facts at a Glance

Detail	Information
Organisation	The Walt Disney Company
Business	Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology
Programme	Associate Product Manager Program
Position	Product Manager I (APM)
Job ID	10160554
Opportunity type	Full-time early-career role
Programme duration	Two years
Start	Summer 2027
Rotation	At the 12-month mark
Education	Bachelor’s or Master’s in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or related technical field
Experience	Coursework, projects or internships in product management or related technical areas
Primary location	Greater Los Angeles, California
Additional location	New York, New York
Listed Los Angeles salary range	US$97,500–US$130,700 annually
Posting date	September 15, 2026
Application deadline	Not specified in the vacancy

The official Disney listing confirms the programme structure, qualifications, locations, salary range and Summer 2027 start.

How to Apply

Candidates interested in the Disney Associate Product Manager Program should apply through the official Disney Careers application system.

The vacancy is listed under Job ID 10160554.

The application should be prepared around the requirements specified in the job description, particularly:

• Technical academic background.
• Product or technical project experience.
• Analytical ability.
• Communication.
• Collaboration.
• User-centred thinking.
• Interest in technology.
• Problem-solving.
• Adaptability.

Applicants should also review Disney’s candidate resources and hiring-process information before submitting their application.

The official Disney Associate Product Manager Program vacancy provides the current application information.

Conclusion

The Disney Associate Product Manager Program 2027 provides an entry point into product management for upcoming and recent graduates with technical academic backgrounds and an interest in technology, product development and user experience.

The two-year programme combines full-time employment with structured development, mentorship, networking, product-management training and practical experience. Participants will work alongside product managers, designers and engineers, contribute to product strategy, write product requirements, analyse data, conduct competitor research and support product launches.

An important feature of the programme is the 12-month team rotation, which is designed to expose participants to multiple product teams and domains. This gives early-career product professionals an opportunity to broaden their understanding of how product management works across different environments.

The role is based primarily in the Greater Los Angeles area, with potential opportunities in New York City. The listed Los Angeles hiring range is US$97,500 to US$130,700 per year, with possible additional bonus, long-term incentives and benefits depending on the position and final offer.

For applicants, the key academic requirement is an upcoming or recently completed Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or a related technical field. Candidates can demonstrate relevant experience through coursework, academic projects or internships in product management, engineering, software development, user experience or related areas.

The Disney vacancy does not specify a fixed application deadline, so interested candidates should review the official listing and apply while the position remains open. The role was posted on September 15, 2026, and recruitment listings can change as hiring needs evolve.

For graduates who want to combine technology, data, user needs, business strategy and product development within a major global media organisation, the Disney APM Program offers a structured route into an early product-management career.

Discover more global Job opportunities on OFY HERE.