Senior/Staff Big Data Storage and Computing Engineer, Recommendation Data Ecosystem

TikTok; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 242,000 - 456,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental & Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid parental leave

Short-term disability

Long-term disability

Life insurance

Wellbeing benefits

Paid holidays

Job summary

TikTok is seeking a highly skilled data systems engineer in the United States for design and implementation of large-scale data architectures. You will work on offline and real-time systems using Paimon and Flink, focusing on scalable storage, performance optimization, and robust production stability across massive datasets.

The role requires strong Java, C++, and Scala skills, deep data lake knowledge, and experience with Hive/HBase/Kudu.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in CS/SE or related field with experience building scalable systems.
• Deep understanding of Paimon and Flink; able to work with them at code level.
• Experience with at least one data lake tech (e.g., Paimon) and customization.
• Proficient in Java, C++, and Scala with strong coding/problem-solving skills.
• Experience with data warehouse modeling for complex business scenarios.
• Familiar with other big-data systems/frameworks (Hive, HBase, Kudu, etc.) and PB-scale data.
• Willing to tackle complex problems and self-driven learning of new tech.
• Knowledge of HDFS and columnar formats like Parquet/ORC.

Responsibilities

• Architecture design and implement offline/real-time data architectures for large-scale rec, search, and ads systems using Paimon and Flink.
• Design scalable storage and computing models; optimize performance as business grows.
• Troubleshoot production systems and implement stability mechanisms for Paimon-Flink stack.
• Build and maintain distributed systems providing infrastructure for massive data and large-scale apps.

Skills

Java

C++

Scala

Paimon

Flink

Distributed systems

Data lake concepts

Scalable architectures

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Software Engineering or related field

Tools

Hive

HBase

Kudu

Parquet/ORC

HDFS

Job description

Responsibilities

1. Architecture Design and Implementation: Design and implement offline and real-time data architectures for large-scale recommendation, search, and advertising systems based on Paimon and Flink. Ensure efficient data processing and storage to meet the strict requirements of the business for data timeliness and accuracy.
2. System Construction and Optimization: Design and implement flexible, scalable, stable, and high-performance storage systems and computing models. Use Paimon as the storage foundation and combine it with the powerful computing capabilities of Flink. Continuously optimize system performance to cope with the challenges brought by business growth.
3. Troubleshooting and Stability Assurance: Be responsible for troubleshooting production systems. For problems that occur in the Paimon-Flink architecture during operation, design and implement necessary mechanisms and tools, such as data consistency assurance and exception recovery, to ensure the overall stability of the production system.
4. Distributed System Construction: Build industry-leading distributed systems, including offline and online storage based on Paimon and batch and stream processing frameworks based on Flink, providing solid and reliable infrastructure support for massive data and large-scale business systems.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree or above in computer science, software engineering, or related fields, with experience in building scalable systems.
• Thorough understanding of Paimon and Flink, and be able to understand and use them at the source-code level.
• In-depth understanding of at least one data lake technology (such as Paimon), with practical implementation and customization experience, which should be highlighted in the resume.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Java, C++, and Scala, with strong coding and problem-solving abilities.
• Experience in data warehouse modeling and be able to design efficient data models that meet complex business scenarios.

• Experience in using other big-data systems/frameworks (such as Hive, HBase, Kudu, etc.) and handling large-scale data (PB - level and above) is preferred.
• Have the courage to take on complex problems and be willing to explore problems without clear solutions.
• Passions in learning new technologies and be able to quickly master and apply them to practical work.
• Familiar with the principles of HDFS, and knowledge of columnar storage formats such as Parquet and ORC is preferred.

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

Job Information

【For Pay Transparency】Compensation Description (Annually)

The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $241680 - $456000 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.