Machine Learning Engineer Graduate (Risk & Integrity) - 2027 Start (PhD) San Jose Regular R&D Future Talent 2027 - PhD Program Job ID: A109686B

TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC is seeking a Machine Learning Engineer Graduate (Risk & Integrity) for the 2027 PhD program in San Jose. You will work on end-to-end integrity solutions, leveraging large-scale data, mult-modal inputs, and AI/LLM capabilities.

Responsibilities include leading architecture across key domains, building high-precision risk models, and countering adversarial threats while integrating Generative AI into the risk lifecycle.

Qualifications

• PhD in CS/Engineering/Math/Statistics or related.
• Strong ML foundation; experience with Transformer and GNN architectures for large-scale integrity problems.
• Proficient in Python, C++ or Go; familiar with distributed computing (Spark, Flink) and DL frameworks (PyTorch).
• Passion for building world-class risk infrastructure and communicating across global teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead algorithmic architecture and governance for TikTok US across key risk domains.
• Build high-precision risk representation models from diverse data sources.
• Research and counter global adversarial threats with self-evolving defense systems.
• Drive integration of Generative AI and Multimodal tech into risk lifecycle and adjudication.

Skills

Transformer architectures

GNN architectures

Python

C++

Go

Spark

Flink

PyTorch

LLM Agents

LLM Security & Alignment

Multimodal video understanding

Industry Vision

Education

PhD in Computer Science/Engineering/Math/Statistics or related

Tools

Spark

Flink

PyTorch

Job description

Machine Learning Engineer Graduate (Risk & Integrity) - 2027 Start (PhD)

San Jose Regular R&D Future Talent 2027 - PhD Program Job ID: A109686B

Responsibilities

About the teamThe USDS Platform and Community Integrity (PaCI) team is the architectural backbone of TikTok's Risk & Integrity in the US. We drive end-to-end integrity for TikTok and its expanding ecosystem, including Lemon8 and emerging affiliate platforms, by leveraging localized US data and state-of-the-art AI/LLM capabilities.

Our mission is to deliver AI-driven algorithmic solutions that detect and neutralize systemic threats across critical domains: from Account Integrity, Feed, and Social to TikTok Live, Local Services, and User Growth. We architect the core ML infrastructure and risk intelligence that protect our billion-user ecosystem from adversarial threats.

We are looking for talented individuals to join our team. As a graduate, you will get opportunities to pursue bold ideas, tackle complex challenges, and unlock limitless growth.

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

• Global Ecosystem Governance: Lead the algorithmic architecture and governance for TikTok US across key domains, including account integrity, incentive abuse, content safety, and financial risk, ensuring a fair and secure ecosystem for a billion-user community.
• Universal Representation Modeling: Build high-precision, risk representation models leveraging massive heterogeneous data (video, live streams, audio, behavior sequences, and social graphs) to enable cross-scenario risk perception.
• Dynamic Adversarial Defense: Research and counter global adversarial threats (e.g., large-scale automated attacks, AIGC harmful content). Architect self-evolving defense systems that maintain robustness and resilience against rapid tactic shifts and data drift.
• Intelligent Decision-making: Drive the integration of Generative AI and Multimodal technologies into the risk lifecycle. Leverage LLMs and deep learning models to solve complex adjudication and interpretability challenges, balancing precision with automated, large-scale enforcement.

Qualifications

• Individuals who are completing or have recently completed a PhD's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Math, Statistics, or a related discipline.
• Solid foundation in Machine Learning; proficient in applying Transformer and GNN architectures to solve large-scale integrity challenges with social graph and behavior sequence data. Experience designing model evaluation systems that balance technical performance with product goals.
• Strong engineering and coding skills. Proficient in at least one language among Python, C++, or Go; familiar with distributed computing (e.g., Spark, Flink) and deep learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch).
• A passion for building world-class risk infrastructure and the ability to communicate effectively in a global, cross-cultural environment.

• Agentic AI Experience: Hands‑on experience building LLM‑based Agents capable of task planning, tool‑use, or closed‑loop autonomous decision‑making.
• LLM Security & Alignment: Experience in LLM Post‑training or Fine‑tuning (e.g., SFT, RLVR, RLHF) to optimize models for specific risk domains like fraud intent recognition or malicious redirection.
• Multimodal Expertise: Proven track record in video understanding or multimodal representation; ability to integrate visual, audio, and textual features to solve complex behavioral modeling challenges.
• Industry Vision: Experience in Integrity, Anti‑Abuse, Safety, or Trustworthy AI at a large‑scale internet platform.

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