Machine Learning Engineer, E-Commerce Risk Control - USDS San Jose Regular R&D Job ID: A16976

TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC is seeking a Machine Learning Engineer to advance e-commerce risk control. You will develop scalable ML models to detect fraud, abuse, and security risks across TikTok's e-commerce platforms, using state-of-the-art techniques and large-scale data.

The role emphasizes privacy-safe, robust systems, with on-site collaboration in San Jose. Expect to work autonomously within a dynamic team focused on impactful security solutions for a global product ecosystem.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience building & delivering ML models for large-scale internet projects.
• Strong coding skills in at least one major language and familiarity with ML frameworks.
• Ability to think critically and work autonomously with data-driven results.

Responsibilities

• Invent and deploy cutting-edge ML algorithms for e-commerce risk control.
• Leverage representation learning, graph models, and deep learning to improve detection and efficiency.
• Monitor risk metrics and refine strategies to block fraud and malicious activity.
• Analyze large volumes of content and behavior data to build robust user profiles.
• Advance privacy, interpretability, and governance in risk ML solutions.

Skills

C++/Java/Python

ML/DL platforms

Education

Master's degree in CS/Math/ML

PhD in CS/ML/Statistics/OR

Job description

Machine Learning Engineer, E-Commerce Risk Control - USDS

San Jose Regular R&D Job ID: A16976

Responsibilities

About the team The E-Commerce Risk Control team works to minimize the damage of inauthentic behaviors on TikTok E-Commerce platforms, covering multiple classical and novel business risk areas such as account integrity, incentive abuse, malicious behaviors, brushing, click-farm, information leakage, etc. In this team you'll have a unique opportunity to have first‑hand exposure to the strategy of the company in key security initiatives, especially in building scalable and robust, intelligent and privacy‑safe, secure and product‑friendly systems and solutions. Our challenges are not some regular day‑to‑day technical puzzles -- You'll be part of a team that's developing novel solutions to first‑seen challenges of a non-stop evolution of a phenomenal product eco‑system. The work needs to be fast, transferable, while still down to the ground to make quick and solid differences.

• Invent, implement, and deploy cutting‑edge machine learning algorithms, build prototypes, and explore entirely new conceptual solutions to respond to and mitigate business risks in TikTok e‑commerce/platforms, including but not limited to fraudulent merchants, cheating influencers, malicious users, information security issues, and cross‑domain risk challenges.
• Leverage techniques such as representation learning, graph models, deep learning, transfer learning, and multi‑task learning to improve the efficiency of problem detection, thereby rapidly blocking risks and optimizing various metrics in the e‑commerce community ecosystem.
• Monitor and attribute key metrics to quickly detect changes in risk and business trends, proactively identify potential attacks, continuously refine and adjust risk control strategies, and drive risk governance development and business model improvements.
• Mine and analyze massive e‑commerce content and user behavior data to build both short‑term and long‑term user profiles, improve model precision and recall, and enhance robustness, automation, and generalization capabilities.
• Advance risk ML capabilities in privacy/compliance, interpretability, risk perception, and analysis; innovate models and algorithms tailored to the characteristics of content e‑commerce, and build an industry‑leading content e‑commerce risk control algorithm system.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Machine Learning, or other relevant STEM disciplines.
• 2+ years of hands‑on experience in building and delivering machine learning models for large‑scale projects in internet companies.
• Proficiency in C++/Java/Python with strong coding skills, and familiarity with at least one common machine learning/deep learning platform.
• Deep understanding of supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and deep learning techniques, and the ability to build business algorithm models using relevant algorithms.
• Ability to think critically, objectively; reason and communicate in a results‑oriented, data‑driven manner; and work with high autonomy.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Statistics, Operations Research, or related field.
• 4+ years of hands‑on experience in building and delivering machine learning models for large‑scale projects in internet companies.
• Experience in e‑commerce/internet companies in fraud or risk control roles, with a track record of building fraud detection, anomaly detection, or similar risk control models using relevant algorithms.
• Ability to keep up with and proactively apply relevant technological advancements, incorporating the latest technologies (e.g., LLM, Multi‑agent systems) into daily work.

Job Information

About USDS

TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC is dedicated to the safety and security of millions of Americans who create, discover, and connect with what they love on the apps we operate. The Joint Venture has been established in compliance with the Executive Order signed by President Trump on September 25, 2025. Our foundation is a comprehensive data privacy and cybersecurity program we operate under defined safeguards to protect national security and secure U.S. user data, apps and the algorithm. We safeguard the U.S. content ecosystem, holding decision‑making authority for trust and safety policies and moderation. USDS Joint Venture helps ensure Americans can continue to express their creativity, discover new hobbies and interests, and build thriving communities and businesses on a global scale.

On‑site presence across teams allows the company to operate with greater speed, alignment, and agility — especially in areas like real‑time decision‑making, team development, and integrated execution. As such, the company is shifting from a hybrid work model to a fully in‑person schedule up to 5 days a week.

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.

USDS Reasonable Accommodation

USDS 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/USDS-RA