Machine Learning Engineer Intern (Global E-commerce Risk Control) - 2026 Start (PhD)

ByteDance; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 64,781 - 92,264; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Wellbeing benefits

Paid holidays

Paid sick time

Housing allowance

Job summary

ByteDance in Seattle is seeking a Machine Learning Engineer Intern for Summer 2026 in Global E-commerce Risk Control. You will develop and validate ML models to assess business risk across Bytedance's products and platforms, collaborating with Product and Tech teams.

As a PhD candidate, you will prototype novel approaches, run experiments, and contribute to data-driven risk strategies while gaining hands-on experience in a fast-moving tech environment.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a PhD in Computer Science Engineering, Operations Research, or related field.
• Able to commit to 12 weeks during Summer 2026.
• Proficiency in ML theories and applications including ensemble trees, deep neural networks, transfer/multi-task learning, reinforcement learning, graph theory, and unsupervised learning.
• Experience with Python, SQL/Hive, and Hadoop.
• Strong problem-solving, time management and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement ML algorithms to manage business risks in Bytedance's products and platforms.
• Prototype and explore novel solutions, run experiments and provide insights to Product and Tech teams.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to enhance current automation processes.
• Build efficient data querying infrastructure for real-time and offline analysis.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen risk defense solutions.
• Define risk control metrics and promote data-driven practices.
• Align teams and stakeholders on numeric goals for risk control.
• Document technical processes and communicate results through writing, visualizations, and presentations.

Skills

ML theories

Ensemble methods

Deep learning

Transfer learning

Reinforcement learning

Graph theory

Unsupervised learning

Python

SQL/Hive

Hadoop

Education

PhD in CS/OR

Tools

Hive

Hadoop

SQL

Job description

Machine Learning Engineer Intern (Global E-commerce Risk Control) - 2026 Start (PhD)

Location: Seattle | Team: Technology | Employment Type: Intern | Job Code: A258029

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement innovative machine learning algorithms to manage business risks in Bytedance's products and platforms.
• Prototype and explore novel solutions, conduct experiments to validate hypotheses, and provide insights to Product and Tech teams.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to enhance current automation processes.
• Build efficient data querying infrastructure for real-time and offline analysis.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen risk defense solutions.
• Define risk control metrics and promote data-driven practices.
• Align teams and stakeholders on numeric goals for risk control.
• Document technical processes and effectively communicate results through writing, visualizations, and presentations.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a PhD in Computer Science Engineering, Operations Research, or related fields.
• Able to commit to working for 12 weeks during Summer 2026.
• Proficiency in modern machine learning theories and applications, including ensemble trees, deep neural networks, transfer/multi-task learning, reinforcement learning, graph theory, and unsupervised learning.
• Experience with Python, SQL/Hive, and Hadoop.
• Strong understanding of data structures and algorithms, with excellent problem-solving ability.
• Detail oriented, effective time management, and strong analytical skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated software engineering experience from previous internship, work experience, coding competitions, or publications.
• Internship experience or research experience, especially in e-commerce, risk control domain.
• Curiosity towards new technologies and entrepreneurship.
• High levels of creativity and quick problem-solving capabilities.

Job Information

The hourly rate range for this position in the selected city is $57- $57.

Benefits

Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Interns have day one access to health insurance, life insurance, wellbeing benefits and more. Interns also receive 10 paid holidays per year and paid sick time (56 hours if hired in first half of year, 40 if hired in second half of year). Interns who are not working 100% remote may also be eligible for housing allowance.

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.

Reasonable Accommodation

ByteDance 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

By submitting an application for this role, you accept and agree to our global applicant privacy policy, which may be accessed here: https://jobs.bytedance.com/en/legal/privacy