Machine Learning Engineer - Global E-commerce (ETA, Pricing & Conversion)

TikTok; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 154,000 - 301,000; Full time

Job summary

TikTok is hiring for a Global E-commerce Algorithm role in Seattle. You will develop large-scale algorithms that merge physical logistics with digital experiences, shaping discovery and growth.

Responsibilities include building ETA predictions with OneTrans, pricing via causal inference, and integrating fulfillment factors into Search and Recommendation. You will also lead LLM and AI agent innovations to diagnose and resolve complex user-facing issues.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in a quantitative field.
• Proficient programming in Python, C++, or Java.
• Experience with big data tools and deep learning frameworks.
• Experience with A/B testing and data-driven decision making.
• Ability to translate complex problems into scalable algorithms.
• Passion for solving high-impact e-commerce challenges.

Responsibilities

• Next-Gen ETA Prediction: Build end-to-end ETA systems using OneTrans and deep learning.
• Intelligent Pricing via Causal Inference: Design dynamic shipping pricing strategies.
• Conversion & Impression Allocation: Integrate fulfillment factors into ranking.
• LLM & AI Agent Innovation: Develop domain-specific LLMs and agent workflows.

Skills

Data structures & algorithms

Python

C++

Java

A/B testing

Experimentation design

Data-driven decision making

Education

Master's or PhD in a highly quantitative field

Tools

Spark

Hive SQL

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Job description

Responsibilities

The Global E-commerce Algorithm team is the core engine driving the ultimate shopping experience and user growth for our rapidly expanding international platform. At the intersection of entertainment and commerce, we are shaping the future of "Discovery E-Commerce" by building cutting-edge AI, search, and recommendation systems that connect millions of users with the products they love.

In this role, you will focus on solving massive-scale, consumer-facing challenges by bridging the gap between physical fulfillment and the digital user experience. You will build core algorithmic frameworks from the ground up, deeply integrating physical logistics factors—such as delivery speed, reliability, and shipping costs—into our core Search and Recommendation ecosystems. By dynamically optimizing impression allocation and conversion strategies, your work will directly drive user growth and platform GMV. You will push the boundaries of applied machine learning by leveraging cutting-edge techniques, including our proprietary OneTrans Model for ETA prediction, Causal Inference for dynamic pricing, and the latest advancements in Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI Agents.

• Next-Gen ETA Prediction: Build and optimize end-to-end Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) prediction systems leveraging our proprietary OneTrans Model. Analyze spatio-temporal sequences using deep learning to improve ETA accuracy, enhance consumer trust, and boost click-to-order rates.
• Intelligent Pricing via Causal Inference: Design and implement intelligent shipping-fee pricing, free-shipping strategies, and subsidy-pricing coordination. Utilize advanced Causal Inference techniques to build multi-objective optimization models that perfectly balance user landed price, platform costs, and profitability.
• Conversion & Impression Allocation: Deeply integrate key fulfillment factors (e.g., delivery speed, shipping cost) into core Search and Recommendation ranking algorithms. Design intelligent impression allocation and dynamic consumer presentation strategies that balance user experience and business costs, ultimately driving higher retention and repeat purchase rates.
• LLM & AI Agent Innovation: Pioneer the development of domain-specific LLMs by leveraging massive e-commerce data for Continual Pre-Training (CPT), Supervised Fine-Tuning (SFT), and Reinforcement Learning (RL). Design and deploy intelligent AI Agents based on an "Agent + Skill" framework to autonomously diagnose and resolve complex user-facing and operational issues.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's or PhD degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Operations Research, or a related highly quantitative field.
• Solid foundation in data structures and algorithms, with proficient programming skills in Python, C++, or Java.
• Strong fundamentals in applied machine learning, with hands-on experience processing large-scale data using Big Data tools (e.g., Spark, Hive SQL) and Deep Learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Experience with A/B testing, experimentation design, and data-driven decision making.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex, open-ended business problems into highly scalable algorithmic solutions.
• A strong passion for solving complex, high-impact e-commerce challenges and driving user growth.

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep expertise and industry experience in at least one of the following core areas:
• Spatio-Temporal Modeling: Sequence prediction, ETA modeling, or graph neural networks.
• Causal Inference: Dynamic pricing, uplift modeling, or user growth algorithms.
• Search & Recommendation: RecSys ranking, computational advertising, or impression allocation.
• LLM / Generative AI: LLM training pipelines (CPT, SFT, RLHF/RLAIF) and building Agentic workflows.
• A strong track record of algorithmic innovation, demonstrated by publications at top-tier conferences (e.g., KDD, NeurIPS, WWW, SIGIR, WSDM, ICLR, ICML).

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 $153900 - $300960 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

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Our company believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship on the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment:

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.