Research Scientist Intern (Compute Platform - Database Acceleration) - 2026 Start (PhD) San Jose

TikTok; San Jose, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Wellbeing benefits

Housing allowance

Job summary

TikTok is seeking a Research Scientist Intern (Compute Platform - Database Acceleration) for a 2026 start in San Jose. The role involves designing kernel modules or core features for cloud-native distributed analytical databases and researching evolving database technologies.

Strong candidates will hold a PhD in a related field and have experience with C++ or Rust. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to build backend support for cloud-native database services, tackling

Qualifications

• PhD in Computer Science or related field, pursuing or completed.
• Experience with C++ or Rust in system programming contexts.
• Interest in OLAP databases and data management systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop kernel modules or core features for cloud-native distributed analytical database systems.
• Conduct research on database and data management technology developments and未来 directions.
• Solve complex problems on large-scale, high-performance cloud infrastructure.
• Partner with teams to build backend support for cloud-native database services.

Skills

C++

Rust

Education

PhD in Computer Science

Tools

Velox

DataFusion

DuckDB

Polars

Clickhouse

Spark

Presto

Job description

Research Scientist Intern (Compute Platform - Database Acceleration) - 2026 Start (PhD)

Location:

San Jose

Employment Type:

Intern

Job Code:

A207630A

Responsibilities

• Design and develop kernel modules or core features for cloud-native distributed analytical database systems
• Conduct research for cutting-edge technology evolvement in database and data management area and identify the potential future directions
• Solve unique and complex problems on large-scale, high-performance cloud infrastructure
• Partner with different teams on building backend support for cloud native database service

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Currently has or is in the process of obtaining a PhD in Computer Science, related STEM or quantitative field
• Experience with at least one system programming language: C++, Rust etc.

Preferred Qualifications

• Research or deep working experience in OLAP databases and data management systems is preferred, including but not limited to database kernel, query processing, query optimization, storage system, hardware acceleration, cloud native infrastructure, etc.
• Experience with open-source and industry databases and data management systems like Velox, DataFusion, DuckDB, Polars, Clickhouse, Spark, Presto etc is a plus
• Passionate & experienced for contributing to open source communities
• High levels of creativity and quick problem-solving capabilities

Job Information

The hourly rate range for this position in the selected city is $36- $45.

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.

For 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.

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

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