Research Scientist Graduate (Distributed NoSQL Database Systems) - 2027 Start (PhD)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Parental leave

Disability coverage

Life insurance

Job summary

ByteDance’s database development team is seeking PhD-qualified researchers to design and build distributed NoSQL databases, including caches, key-value, document, graph, wide-column, search, or multi-model databases. You will deliver high-performance, low-latency systems for global infrastructure in a cloud-native environment.

Ideal candidates have strong database and distributed systems expertise, proficiency in C/C++/Java/Go/Python/Rust, and hands-on experience with large-scale cloud-native

Qualifications

• PhD in Computer Science or related discipline with strong database systems or AI research experience.
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages (C, C++, Java, Go, Python, Rust) with strong coding skills in a Linux environment.
• Deep understanding of database principles, distributed system design, and multi-threaded programming with hands-on distributed storage and computing experience.
• Strong knowledge of distributed consensus algorithms with experience in database kernel development.
• Practical experience with large-scale cloud-native architectures and distributed system control platforms.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop distributed NoSQL databases, focusing on distributed caches, key-value stores, document/graph databases, wide-column stores, search engines, or multi-model databases.
• Build high-performance, low-latency, highly available distributed systems for mission-critical operations with scalability and cost efficiency.
• Optimize compute and storage engines for cloud-native global deployments, improving efficiency and reducing costs.
• Provide technical guidance to internal teams, identifying opportunities for system optimization to improve stability, functionality, and performance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop robust database products and solutions.
• Address technical challenges in cloud service architectures to ensure scalable solutions for large-scale, high-traffic systems.

Skills

C

C++

Java

Go

Python

Rust

Linux

Distributed systems

Distributed storage

Multi-threaded

Distributed consensus

Education

PhD in Computer Science or related discipline

Tools

RocksDB

Redis

MongoDB

HBase

TiDB

Neo4j

Elasticsearch

JanusGraph

YugabyteDB

CockroachDB

Job description

Responsibilities

About the Team. Join ByteDance’s database development team, where you’ll build and own cutting-edge database products supporting Bytedance’s global infrastructure. Our diverse portfolio includes relational databases, distributed caches, key-value stores, document databases, graph databases, wide-column stores, search engines, and multi-model databases. In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to enhance these services in a cloud-native environment, embracing a culture of intellectual curiosity, self-direction, and problem-solving.

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.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop distributed NoSQL databases, with a focus on one of the following: distributed caches, key-value stores, document databases, graph databases, wide-column stores, search engines, or multi-model databases.
• Build high-performance, low-latency, and highly available distributed systems to support mission-critical business operations with scalability and cost efficiency.
• Optimize compute and storage engines for cloud-native global deployments, improving efficiency and reducing operational costs.
• Provide technical guidance to internal business teams, identifying opportunities for system optimization to improve stability, functionality, and performance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop robust database products and solutions.
• Address technical challenges in cloud service architectures, ensuring scalable solutions for large-scale, high-traffic systems.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Individuals who are completing or have recently completed a PhD degree in Computer Science or related discipline with strong database systems or AI research experience.
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages (C, C++, Java, Go, Python, Rust) with strong coding skills in a Linux environment.
• Deep understanding of database principles, distributed system design, and multi-threaded programming, with hands‑on experience in distributed storage and computing technologies.
• Strong knowledge of distributed consensus algorithms, with experience in database kernel development.
• Practical experience with large‑scale cloud-native architectures and distributed system control platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

• Publications at conferences (e.g., SIGMOD, VLDB, NeurIPS, MLSys, ICDE).
• Familiarity with popular database systems and source code such as RocksDB, Redis, MongoDB, HBase, TiDB, Neo4j, Elasticsearch, JanusGraph, YugabyteDB, or CockroachDB.

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

• 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-traffic 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:

• Interacting and occasionally having unsupervised contact with internal/external clients and/or colleagues;
• Appropriately handling and managing confidential information including proprietary and trade secret information and access to information technology systems; and
• Exercising sound judgment.

About Us

Founded in 2012, ByteDance's mission is to inspire creativity and enrich life. With a suite of more than a dozen products, including TikTok, Lemon8, CapCut and Pico as well as platforms specific to the China market, including Toutiao, Douyin, and Xigua, ByteDance has made it easier and more fun for people to connect with, consume, and create content.

Why Join ByteDance

Inspiring creativity is at the core of ByteDance's mission. Our innovative products are 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 enrich life - a mission we work towards every day.

As ByteDancers, 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. 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

ByteDance 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 ByteDance, our mission is to inspire creativity and enrich life. 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.

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