Software Engineer Intern (Recommendation Architecture, Feeds Infrastructure) - 2027 Summer

TikTok; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 51,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Wellbeing benefits

Housing allowance

10 paid holidays per year

Paid sick time

Job summary

TikTok is seeking students for an internship with the Video team, focusing on the systems behind the For You Feed. This role sits at the intersection of machine learning and large-scale systems, designing and operating the end-to-end pipeline—from offline training data orchestration to real-time online inference—that delivers fast and personalized discovery to over a billion users.

As an intern you will build globalized large-scale recommendation components, develop efficient data pipelines for

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related technical discipline.
• Experience in programming with C, C++, Java or Golang.
• Strong communication and sense of ownership and drive.
• Pursuing a Master's degree in CS or related technical discipline (preferred).
• Experience in AI coding is a plus (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Build globalized large-scale recommendation system.
• Build efficient data pipelines for candidates generation, ranking, profile generation, training examples.
• Coach AI to perform release processes and production operations, including online anomaly detection and safeguards.

Skills

C

C++

Java

Golang

Education

Bachelor's in Computer Science

Master's in CS (preferred)

Job description

About the Team

The TikTok Video team works on the systems behind the For You Feed, TikTok’s personalized recommendation experience. We operate at the intersection of machine learning and large-scale systems, designing and operating the end-to-end pipeline —from offline training data orchestration to real-time online inference—that delivers seamless, high-frequency discovery to over a billion users.

We are looking for talented individuals to join us for an internship. Our internship program offers students hands‑on experience, industry exposure, and opportunities to apply their knowledge to real‑world challenges while building a strong foundation for personal and professional growth.

Interns will gain practical experience, explore potential career paths, and participate in social events, learning programs, and development workshops alongside industry professionals.

Candidates may apply to a maximum of two positions across Our Company and its affiliates globally. Applications will be considered in the order they are submitted.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply early. Please clearly state your availability in your resume, including your start and end dates.

Candidates who pass resume screening will be invited to participate in Our Company's technical online assessment.

Responsibilities

• Build globalized large-scale recommendation system;
• Build extremely efficient and reliable data pipelines for candidates generation, ranking system, profile generation, training examples generation, realtime online training, etc;
• Coach AI to perform release process and production operations, including online anomaly detection and diagnose, release safeguards, etc.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification(s)

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related technical discipline.
• Experience in programming, included but not limited to the following programming languages: C, C++, Java or Golang;
• Effective communication skills and a sense of ownership and drive.

Preferred Qualification(s)

• Currently pursuing a Master's degree in Computer Science or a related technical discipline.
• Experience in AI coding is a plus.

Job Information

【For Pay Transparency】Compensation Description (Hourly) - Campus Intern

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

Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location.

• 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

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; and
• 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