AI & Data Architect - Trust and Safety

TikTok; New York (NY); On-site; USD 219,000 - 408,000; Full time

Job summary

TikTok is seeking an AI & Data Architect to define the AI and data foundation enabling Trust & Safety to scale decision intelligence, automation, and operational excellence. You will bridge AI, data, product, engineering, and safety teams to translate complex safety challenges into scalable solutions.

You will shape technical strategy, establish reusable architecture patterns, and enable responsible AI adoption across Trust & Safety.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in data architecture, AI systems, ML platforms, or related technical domains.
• Strong experience designing scalable data ecosystems and AI-enabled applications.
• Deep understanding of data architecture, ML lifecycle, GenAI architecture patterns (RAG, embeddings, knowledge systems), and responsible AI practices.
• Ability to translate ambiguous business problems into scalable technical solutions and influence across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience building AI systems in large-scale consumer platforms.
• Experience in Trust & Safety, fraud prevention, cybersecurity, risk, or compliance domains.
• Familiarity with ML platforms, feature systems, vector databases, knowledge graphs, or MLOps.

Responsibilities

• Define AI & Data Architecture Strategy: Establish target-state architecture for T&S data and AI capabilities.
• Build Scalable AI & Data Foundations: Design AI-ready data models, data products, and architecture patterns to support analytics, machine learning, and GenAI apps.
• Drive Technical Leadership & AI Transformation: Act as a design authority for strategic AI and data initiatives across Trust & Safety.
• Create reference architectures and best practices for responsible AI adoption.
• Influence engineering, data science, product, and operations teams to accelerate AI-enabled safety transformation.
• Mentor teams and raise overall architecture maturity across T&S.

Skills

Data architecture

AI systems

Machine learning platforms

RAG

Embeddings

Knowledge systems

Responsible AI

Stakeholder influence

Tools

ML platforms

Feature systems

Vector databases

Knowledge graphs

MLOps

Job description

Responsibilities

The AI & Data Architect will define the AI and data foundation that enables Trust & Safety (T&S) to scale decision intelligence, automation, and operational excellence. This role will bridge AI, data, product, engineering, and safety teams to translate complex safety challenges into scalable solutions. The architect will shape technical strategy, establish reusable architecture patterns, and enable responsible adoption of AI across T&S.

Responsibilities:

• Define AI & Data Architecture Strategy:
  • Establish the target-state architecture for T&S data and AI capabilities, including data foundations, knowledge systems, AI platforms, and intelligent workflows.
  • Develop scalable architecture principles, standards, and reusable patterns across T&S teams.
  • Partner with cross-functional leaders to identify high-impact opportunities where AI and data can improve safety outcomes.
• Build Scalable AI & Data Foundations:
  • Design AI-ready data models, data products, and architecture patterns to support analytics, machine learning, and GenAI applications.
  • Enable integration of diverse safety data sources, including policy knowledge, enforcement decisions, investigations, user reports, and operational signals.
  • Architect next-generation AI solutions using approaches such as RAG, knowledge systems, AI agents, and human-in-the-loop workflows.
  • Drive solutions from experimentation to reliable production by improving scalability, reliability, explainability, and governance.
• Drive Technical Leadership & AI Transformation:
  • Act as a design authority for strategic AI and data initiatives across Trust & Safety.
  • Create reference architectures and best practices for responsible AI adoption.
  • Influence engineering, data science, product, and operations teams to accelerate AI-enabled safety transformation.
  • Mentor teams and raise overall architecture maturity across T&S.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification(s):

• 5+ years of experience in data architecture, AI systems, machine learning platforms, or related technical domains.
• Strong experience designing scalable data ecosystems and AI-enabled applications.
• Deep understanding of data architecture, machine learning lifecycle, GenAI architecture patterns (e.g., RAG, embeddings, knowledge systems), and responsible AI practices.
• Ability to translate ambiguous business problems into scalable technical solutions and influence across technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred Qualification(s):

• Experience building AI systems in large-scale consumer platforms.
• Experience in Trust & Safety, fraud prevention, cybersecurity, risk, or compliance domains.
• Familiarity with ML platforms, feature systems, vector databases, knowledge graphs, or MLOps.

Trust & Safety

Content that this role interacts with includes images, video, and text related to every-day life, but it can also include (but is not limited to) bullying; hate speech; child safety; depictions of harm to self and others, and harm to animals. Hence, it is possible that this role will be exposed to harmful content on a daily basis.

TikTok recognises that keeping our platform safe for the TikTok communities is no ordinary job which can be both rewarding and psychologically demanding and emotionally taxing for some. This is why we are sharing the potential hazards, risks and implications in this unique line of work from the start, so our candidates are well informed before joining.

We are committed to the wellbeing of all our employees and promise to provide comprehensive and evidence-based programs, to promote and support physical and mental wellbeing throughout each employee's journey with us. We believe that wellbeing is a relationship and that everyone has a part to play, so we work in collaboration and consultation with our employees and across our functions in order to ensure a truly person-centred, innovative and integrated approach.

About TikTok

TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok's global headquarters are in Los Angeles and Singapore, and we also have offices in New York City, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.

Why Join Us

Inspiring creativity is at the core of TikTok's mission. Our innovative product is 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 bring joy - a mission we work towards every day.

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. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and innovate as one team. We're resilient and embrace challenges as they come. 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

TikTok 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 TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. 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.

TikTok Accommodation

TikTok is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at https://tinyurl.com/RA-request

Job Information

【For Pay Transparency】Compensation Description (Annually)

The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $219000 - $408000 annually.

Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, and restricted stock units.

Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Employees have day one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) savings plan with company match, paid parental leave, short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, among others. Employees also receive 10 paid holidays per year, 10 paid sick days per year and 17 days of Paid Personal Time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure).

The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.

For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates:

• 1. Interacting and occasionally having unsupervised contact with internal/external clients and/or colleagues;
• 2. Appropriately handling and managing confidential information including proprietary and trade secret information and access to information technology systems;
• 3. Exercising sound judgment.