Software Development Engineer Graduate (SDN Traffic Intelligence & Control) - 2026 Start (PhD)

ByteDance; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 148,200 - 300,960; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid parental leave

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Wellbeing benefits

Paid holidays

Paid sick days

Paid personal time

Job summary

ByteDance seeks a highly skilled networking researcher to advance hyperscale data-centre networking across platforms like TikTok and Douyin. You will help design and implement distributed networking systems that scale and perform under heavy load.

Join a team that values curiosity, collaboration, and rigorous engineering. The role requires a PhD or near completion in CS/Engineering, strong Go/C++/Python, and deep TCP/IP knowledge, with a focus on bandwidth management and rate limiting.

Qualifications

• PhD completed or near completion in Software Development, CS, CE or related field.
• Strong programming skills in Go, C++, or Python with distributed systems design.
• Deep understanding of TCP/IP stack and networking concepts.
• Experience or research in bandwidth management or distributed rate limiting is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Build software control systems to manage network resources, especially long-haul bandwidth.
• Develop host/gateway traffic monitoring, analysis and control capabilities.
• Collaborate with network operations to support bandwidth and performance needs and fault analysis.

Skills

PhD in CS/Engineering

Go, C++, Python

Distributed systems

TCP/IP networking

Bandwidth management

Education

PhD in CS/Engineering

Job description

Responsibilities

Team Introduction

ByteDance Networking brings together innovative ideas and technologies from network architecture, software defined networking (SDN), network virtualization, switch software and hardware co-design, and high-speed networking, to create hyperscale data-centre networking solutions that power several of the most popular apps of the world such as Douyin and TikTok which serve hundreds of millions of users around the globe.

We are looking for candidates with strong networking background and solid software development skills, who have a deep understanding in routing protocols and/or can utilize container techniques in emulating production networks to help operators maintain Bytedance's networking infrastructure safely and confidently.

Successful candidates must be able to commit between January 5, 2026 to December 14, 2026.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis – we encourage you to apply early. Please state your availability clearly in your resume (Start date, End date).

Candidates can apply for a maximum of TWO positions and will be considered for jobs in the order you applied for. The application limit is applicable to ByteDance and its affiliates' jobs globally.

• Build software control systems to manage the network resources, especially the long haul bandwidth;
• Build host/gateway end-side network traffic monitoring, analysis and control capabilities;
• Working with network operation and planning teams to support bandwidth and performance requirements for upper-layer computing, storage, recommendation and other businesses, and provide fault analysis and resolving capabilities.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Individuals who are completing or have recently completed a PhD degree in Software Development, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Proficiency in at least one programming language, such as Go, C++, or Python, with a strong foundation in designing and developing distributed systems;
• In-depth understanding of networking protocols and the TCP/IP stack;
• Practical or research experience in the areas of bandwidth management or distributed rate limiting systems/algorithms will be considered particularly favorable.

Preferred Qualifications

• In-depth understanding of networking protocols and the TCP/IP stack; familiarity with Linux operating systems and networking functionalities is highly advantageous.
• Practical or research experience in the areas of bandwidth management or distributed rate limiting systems/algorithms will be considered particularly favorable.

Job Information

【For Pay Transparency】 Compensation Description (Annually): The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $148,200 – $300,960 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:

• 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;
• 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.