Machine Learning Engineer Graduate (Global E-Commerce, Search) - 2026 Start (PhD)

ByteDance; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

ByteDance’s Search E-Commerce team in Singapore seeks a PhD-level ML/software engineer to advance search algorithms, ranking, and multi-modal matching for a global user base. You will contribute to scalable systems, model deployment, and user-centric product improvements.

The role requires strong coding skills, data-structure fluency, and machine learning experience, with a passion for solving complex problems and improving the shopping experience. Onboarding by end-2026 is expected.

Qualifications

• PhD in Software Development, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Excellent coding skills. Solid knowledge of data structure and algorithms.
• Excellent in analysis, modeling and problem-solving from complex data.
• Industry work experience in machine learning and user-focused product sense.

Responsibilities

• Improve the basic search quality and user experience: optimize query analysis and text relevance matching. Multi-modal matching for e-commerce video content.
• Design and implement end-to-end ranking systems (recall, ranking stages) to improve conversion.
• Address supply-demand matching, cold start, and sustainable GMV growth through system evolution.
• Apply statistics, scripting and programming languages in a team setting.
• Work with platforms where models are deployed.

Skills

Coding skills

Data structures

Algorithms

Machine learning

Product sense

Education

PhD in CS/CE or related

Tools

Python

C++

Job description

Team Introduction

The Search E-Commerce team is responsible for the search algorithm for our rapidly growing global e-commerce business. We use state‑of‑the‑art large‑scale machine learning technology, the cutting‑edge NLP, CV and multi‑modal technology to build the industry's top‑class search engine to provide the best e‑commerce search experience, for more than 1 billion monthly users around the world. Our mission is to build a world where "there is no hard‑to‑sell good‑priced product in the world".

We are looking for talented individuals to join our team in 2026. As a graduate, you will get opportunities to pursue bold ideas, tackle complex challenges, and unlock limitless growth. Launch your career where inspiration is infinite at our Company.

Successful candidates must be able to commit to an onboarding date by end of year 2026. Please state your availability and graduation date clearly in your resume.

Responsibilities

• Improve the basic search quality and user experience: optimize query analysis and text relevance matching. Understand e‑commerce video content and implement multi‑modal matching. Improve users’ perception of product authority, and deeply participate in the design and implementation of core search products. Comprehensively improve the end‑to‑end shopping experience from browsing to after‑sales.
• Design and implement the end‑to‑end ranking system (recall, first‑stage ranking, final‑stage ranking and mixed row): improve users’ personalized shopping interests model. Improve the shopping conversion efficiency for merchandise, video and live stream to promote GMV growth.
• Promote the development of the ecosystem: from the perspective of the industry and businesses, solve challenging problems such as supply‑and‑demand matching, business cold start, and sustainable business growth, etc. Think, analyze and adjust the evolution of the system to achieve long‑term and sustainable growth of GMV.
• Work in a team setting and apply knowledge in statistics, scripting and programming languages required by the firm.
• Work with the relevant software platforms in which the models are deployed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Individuals who are completing or have recently completed a PhD degree in Software Development, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Excellent coding skills. Solid knowledge of data structure and algorithms.
• Excellent in analysis, modeling and problem‑solving, and can see the essence of problems from complex data.
• Industry work experience in machine learning. Good product sense with a focus on user experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Self‑driven, able to deeply understand the business, adapt to rapid business changes, have good personal expression and communication skills, and be able to promote project implementation.
• Publication records in top journals or conferences will be a plus. Experience winning ACM‑ICPC medals will be a plus.

By submitting an application for this role, you accept and agree to our global applicant privacy policy, which may be accessed here: https://jobs.bytedance.com/en/legal/privacy

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at [e-mail]

About Us

Founded in 2012, ByteDance’s mission is to inspire creativity and enrich life. With a suite of more than a dozen products, including TikTok, Lemon8, CapCut and Pico as well as platforms specific to the China market, including Toutiao, Douyin, and Xigua, ByteDance has made it easier and more fun for people to connect with, consume, and create content.

Why Join ByteDance

Inspiring creativity is at the core of ByteDance’s mission. Our innovative products are built to help people authentically express themselves, discover and connect – and our global, diverse teams make that possible. Together, we create value for our communities, inspire creativity and enrich life – a mission we work towards every day. As ByteDancers, we strive to do great things with great people. We lead with curiosity, humility, and a desire to make impact in a rapidly growing tech company. By constantly iterating and fostering an "Always Day 1" mindset, we achieve meaningful breakthroughs for ourselves, our Company, and our users. When we create and grow together, the possibilities are limitless. Join us.

Diversity & Inclusion

ByteDance is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At ByteDance, our mission is to inspire creativity and enrich life. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach. We are passionate about this and hope you are too.