Software Engineer, Data Foundation – USDS

TikTok USDS Joint Venture; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 136,800 - 359,720; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) match

Parental leave

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Wellbeing benefits

Paid holidays

Paid sick days

Paid personal time

Job summary

TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC is seeking a Software Engineer to contribute to efficiency, stability, and AI-driven innovation on our data platform in California. You will optimize Spark, ClickHouse, Doris, and related engines while building AI-powered tools that improve reliability and reduce costs at a petabyte scale.

You will collaborate with senior engineers to deliver high-quality code, participate in reviews, and learn across distributed systems and AI as we advance secure, scalable data

Qualifications

• Education: BS/MS in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Distributed Systems: 1+ years of hands‑on experience building or maintaining distributed systems.
• Coding: Strong proficiency in Java, Scala, C++, or Python.

Responsibilities

• Assist in optimizing Apache Spark performance and resource utilization for large-scale data processing.
• Participate in enhancing OLAP systems through query tuning and storage‑compute optimization.
• Contribute to automated job diagnosis and failure analysis systems using AI/ML techniques.
• Help build and maintain monitoring and self-healing capabilities for data pipelines.
• Develop features for intelligent tools.
• Work closely with senior engineers to deliver high-quality, maintainable code and system designs.

Skills

Distributed systems

Java/Scala/C++/Python

Education

BS/MS in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Apache Spark

ClickHouse

Doris

Kafka

Job description

Responsibilities

About the Team

The TikTok U.S. Data Security (USDS) team is responsible for the security, integrity, and compliance of TikTok’s data within the United States. The Data Platform Team builds a scalable, reliable, cost-efficient infrastructure that ensures data integrity and empowers every business unit to win through self-service tools and scientific insights.

We are seeking a Software Engineer to contribute to efficiency, stability, and AI-driven innovation initiatives. You will work alongside senior engineers to optimize the performance and efficiency of our core data engines—Apache Spark, Kafka, ClickHouse, and Doris—while helping build AI-powered solutions that enhance platform intelligence, automate operations, and drive cost optimization at a petabyte scale.

Performance & Efficiency

• Assist in optimizing Apache Spark performance and resource utilization for large-scale data processing.
• Participate in enhancing ClickHouse and Doris OLAP systems through query tuning and storage-compute optimization.

Platform Intelligence & Automation

• Contribute to automated job diagnosis and failure analysis systems using AI/ML techniques.
• Help build and maintain monitoring and self-healing capabilities for data pipelines.
• Develop features for intelligent tools.

Stability & Operational Excellence

• Support the development of robust disaster recovery and data integrity mechanisms.
• Assist in integrating AI/ML capabilities to improve developer productivity and platform efficiency.

Engineering & Collaboration

• Work closely with senior engineers to deliver high-quality, maintainable code and system designs.
• Engage in code reviews, write technical documentation, and actively learn new technologies across distributed systems and AI.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: BS/MS in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Distributed Systems: 1+ years of hands‑on experience building or maintaining distributed systems.
• Coding: Strong proficiency in standard programming languages such as Java, Scala, C++, or Python.

Preferred Qualifications

• Solid understanding and practical experience with modern big data technologies (e.g., Apache Spark, ClickHouse, Doris, or similar engines).

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 $136800 - $359720 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:

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; and
3. Exercising sound judgment.