Applied Research Scientist, Trust & Safety (Policy)

TikTok; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 219,000 - 408,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) match

Parental leave

Wellbeing benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

TikTok is seeking an Applied Research Scientist to drive rigorous, mixed-methods research that informs policy, product, and safety operations. You will partner with Data Science, Policy, Product, Operations, and Engineering to address evolving safety challenges at scale.

You will lead end-to-end studies, apply quantitative and qualitative methods, translate findings into actionable recommendations, and help shape safety strategies across the platform.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years of experience in applied or quantitative research, data science, behavioral science, or related fields.
• Strong foundation in statistics, experimentation, causal inference, and analytical modeling.
• Experience applying qualitative research methods to understand human behavior and processes.
• Ability to synthesize multiple evidence sources into actionable recommendations.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end research initiatives from framing to recommendations.
• Apply quantitative methods to identify trends, measure impact, and evaluate interventions.
• Apply qualitative methods to understand behaviors, motivations, and risks.
• Develop frameworks to measure safety outcomes and enforcement quality.
• Partner with Policy, Product, and Operations to translate research into policy and safety insights.
• Advise cross-functional teams to shape safety strategy and decisions.

Skills

Applied research

Quantitative analysis

Qualitative research

Causal inference

Communication

Job description

TikTok is seeking an Applied Research Scientist to drive rigorous, mixed-methods research that informs policy, product, and safety operations. You will partner with Data Science, Policy, Product, Operations, and Engineering to address evolving safety challenges at scale.

You will lead end-to-end studies, apply quantitative and qualitative methods, translate findings into actionable recommendations, and help shape safety strategies across the platform.