Research Intern (AI/LLM Network) - 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

10 paid holidays per year

Paid sick time

Housing allowance

Job summary

ByteDance, Seattle-based, is offering a Research Intern position (AI/LLM Network) starting 2026 for PhD candidates. You will design and deploy high-speed network tech to support AI/LLM applications and build platforms for monitoring and diagnosing large-scale AI/LLM networks.

The role emphasizes research into high-performance AI communication frameworks and sharing findings in academic papers. Preferred qualifications include pursuing a PhD in computer networking, expertise in C/C++, Python, or

Qualifications

• Pursuing a PhD in computer networking or related field.
• Experience in computer networking and network programming.
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages (C/C++, Python, Go).
• Familiar with high-speed networks, RDMA, congestion control, AI network optimization.
• Experience in building high-performance communication frameworks is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement and deploy high-speed network tech to support AI/LLM apps.
• Develop platforms/systems for monitoring, analysis and diagnosis of large-scale AI/LLM networks.
• Research high-performance AI communication framework and protocol stacks; optimize host-network-application.
• Review latest tech from academia/industry and present findings in academic papers.

Skills

Computer networking

Network programming

C/C++

Python

Go

RDMA

AI network optimization

Education

PhD in computer networking or related field

Tools

NCCL

MPI

RPC libraries

Job description

Research Intern (AI/LLM Network) - 2026 Start (PhD)

Location

Seattle

Team

Technology

Employment Type

Intern

Responsibilities

• Design, implementation and deployment of high-speed network technologies to support AI/LLM applications.
• Design and development of platforms/systems for monitoring, analysis and diagnosis of large-scale AI/LLM network.
• Research and development of high-performance AI communication framework, network protocol stacks, and code‑design optimization of host‑network‑application to improve scalability, reliability and performance of AI/LLM network.
• Follow the latest technologies from academia and industry, identify innovative parts of the system and present in academic papers.

Minimum Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a PhD in computer networking or a related technical discipline.
• Experience with at least one of the following areas:
  • Proficiency in computer network and network programming.
  • Proficiency in one or several mainstream programming languages, including C/C++, Python, Go and so on.
  • Be familiar with the latest advances in the area of high-speed network systems, including RDMA, congestion control, AI network optimization and so on.
  • Experience in developing high-performance communication frameworks (including NCCL, MPI and RPC libraries) is a plus.
  • Experience in developing software systems for AI network diagnosis and performance optimization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Be familiar with AI training/inference systems and software‑hardware co‑design.
• Having top tier networking conference publications such as NSDI, SIGCOMM, OSDI, SOSP, etc.

Job Information

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

Benefits

• 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.

The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.

Legal and EEO Statements

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; and
3. Exercising sound judgment.

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