Software Engineer Intern (Search) - 2027 Summer

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

Job summary

TikTok USDS Joint Venture invites interns to join the Search Team to build a full-stack search engine system leveraging ML and information retrieval methods. You will work on improving search quality and ranking while collaborating with experienced engineers.

The program offers hands-on experience, industry exposure, and development workshops, with an emphasis on personal and professional growth. This internship is onsite, requiring a 12-week commitment for Summer 2027.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Able to commit to a 12-week internship during Summer 2027.
• Experience in developing and implementing large-scale consumer-facing services and/or backend services for large-scale applications.
• Proficiency in C/C++, Python, Java or Golang.
• Effective team communication and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Optimize the searching quality to provide TikTok users the best search experience.
• Apply ML and information retrieval techniques to improve search quality and perception.
• Build core systems and algorithms including query understanding, result ranking, query recommendation, and system reliability.

Skills

Backend development

C/C++

Python

Java

Golang

Team communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/CE/SE or related

Tools

Big Data Frameworks (Hadoop, Spark, Flink)

Job description

The USDS Search Team is responsible for building and owning TikTok's search engine, which provides our users the best search experience. You'll have the opportunity to build a full-stack search engine system and combine information retrieval technology with modern machine learning methods from related fields such as NLP, CV, and recommender system. We embrace a culture of self-direction, intellectual curiosity, openness, and problem-solving.

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.

Responsibilities:

• Optimize the searching quality to provide TikTok's users the best search experience
• Combine your understanding of product objectives and take full advantage of modern machine learning and information retrieval techniques to improve search quality and perception
• Build the core systems and algorithms development including query understanding, result ranking, query recommendation, system reliability, and etc.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• - Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• - Able to commit to a 12-week internship during Summer 2027.
• - Experience in developing and implementing large-scale consumer-facing services/products and/or building backend services for large-scale consumer-facing applications
• - Proficiency in the following languages but not limited to: C/C++, Python, Java or Golang
• - Effective team communication and collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• - Currently pursuing a Master's degree degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• - Working knowledge in one of the following or similar domains: search, recommendation, ranking, ads, etc.
• - Working knowledge in one of the following areas: machine learning, deep learning, backend, large-scale systems, data science, full-stack
• - Experience with Big Data Frameworks, such as hadoop, spark, flink, etc.

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.

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

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:

• - 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