Senior Software Engineer, Capacity & Optimization - USDS

TikTok USDS Joint Venture; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 187,000 - 438,000; Full time

Job summary

TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC is seeking a capacity and optimization engineer to design and implement large-scale optimization software systems that balance cost, performance, and capacity for infrastructure at scale. You will lead cross-functional engineering efforts across data centers, servers, and network to optimize resource usage while maintaining service levels.

The role requires strong OR skills, experience with Golang/C/C++, Python, and shell scripting, and a track record of delivering

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• Proficient in Golang, C/C++, or other coding languages and designing large-scale software systems.
• Proficient in scripting languages like Python and Shell, enabling efficient Linux troubleshooting and automation.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop large-scale optimization software systems that balance capacity, cost, and performance.
• Lead large engineering efforts and implement the most complex parts of the system.
• Collaborate with Finance to balance cost efficiency with technical considerations.
• Work cross-functionally to define problems, collect data, and build data-driven models.
• Identify capacity-related issues and implement solutions across teams.
• Influence data center development and long-term infrastructure strategy.

Skills

Golang/C/C++

Python

Shell scripting

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/CE or related field

Job description

Responsibilities

About the team: Capacity & Optimization Engineering team focus on site-wide performance and capacity optimization at the intersection of all TikTok products, services, and physical infrastructure (Servers, Data Centers, Network).

This role will focus on optimizing Infrastructure performance and capacity at various altitudes to balance services, infrastructure, and business constraints by using Operations Research skills to build and improve mathematical optimization models and solutions. This role is uniquely positioned to optimize infrastructure resources at the most strategic levels with company level impact. This is one of the most cross functional roles at the company, with the opportunity to work with a variety of engineering and business teams to power the rapid growth of TikTok's products. This engineer will help to ensure optimal operation of our infrastructure resources from both a cost and technology perspective, facilitating tens of billions of user requests, tens of exabytes of data and terabits/s of network flow. Come and help build one of the largest fleet and internet services in the world!

• Design and develop large-scale optimization software systems that ensure reliable and efficient planning. These systems bridge business strategy with precise technical execution, incorporating regional and temporal bin-packing, optimal service placement, service migrations, and streamlined hardware refresh processes.
• Effectively lead large engineering efforts while implementing the most complex parts of the system and process design yourself.
• Partner with Finance and business teams to balance cost efficiency with technical and product considerations.
• Work cross-functionally to define problem statements, collect data, build software driven models and make recommendations to drive change and optimization at the most strategic levels.
• Identify capacity-related issues proactively and work across technical and business teams to define and implement solutions.
• Collaborate with data center engineering teams, strategize, and project infrastructure needs 2-5 years in the future, influence next generation data center development, and develop recommendations and strategies that give a unique edge to Oracle hardware infrastructure.
• Demonstrated success leading large engineering projects and initiatives. Defining goals, managing ambiguity, inspiring and leading other engineers and non-technical contributors.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, relevant technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Proficient in Golang, C/C++, or other coding languages and designing large scale software systems.
• Proficient in scripting languages like Python and Shell, enabling efficient Linux troubleshooting and automation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of cloud architecture and data center infrastructure.
• Knowledge of server technology, rack architecture and at-scale cloud infrastructure deployment.
• Technical understanding of server platform architecture, design and development, with emphasis on at scale deployment.
• Technical understanding of commodity storage and memory technologies (SSDs, HDDs, tape, DRAM etc.) and knowledgeable on storage and/or memory industry trends

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

Job Information

【For Pay Transparency】Compensation Description (Annually)

The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $187040 - $438000 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 may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. 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-term 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:

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.