Software Engineer Intern (TikTok Search Architecture) - 2027 Fall

TikTok Inc.; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

TikTok Search is recruiting interns to help build the next-generation search experience used by hundreds of millions of users. You will work on challenging problems at the intersection of information retrieval, ML, NLP, and distributed systems.

Join a team shaping how search and LLMs combine to improve relevance and user experience. This internship provides hands-on experience, collaboration with product managers and engineers, and opportunities for social learning and growth at TikTok.

Qualifications

• Pursuing Bachelor's in CS or related technical discipline.
• Strong CS fundamentals: data structures, algorithms, OS.
• Strong programming skills in C++, Python, Go or Java.
• Curiosity, fast learner, and ability to solve complex problems.
• Good communication and teamwork.
• Able to commit to a 12-week internship in 2027.

Responsibilities

• Build and optimize search systems for hundreds of millions of users.
• Work on large-scale problems in search quality, ranking, and retrieval.
• Explore integration of search tech with LLMs to improve results.
• Develop algorithms for next-generation search experiences and interactions.
• Collaborate with PMs, researchers, and engineers to translate needs into scalable solutions.
• Apply ML, NLP and LLM techniques to improve search quality.

Skills

C++

Python

Go

Java

Algorithms

Data Structures

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Master's degree in Computer Science or related field

Job description

Responsibilities

About the Team

TikTok Search is building the next-generation search experience for hundreds of millions of users around the world. Our team is responsible for developing and improving TikTok's search engine, with the goal of helping users discover the most relevant, useful, and engaging content through search.

We are actively exploring how to deeply integrate traditional search engine technologies with Large Language Models (LLMs) to enhance the TikTok Search experience and pioneer new search paradigms. You will have the opportunity to work on challenging problems at the intersection of information retrieval, machine learning, natural language understanding, recommendation systems, and large-scale distributed systems.

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.

• Build and optimize search systems and features that serve hundreds of millions of users globally.


• Work on large-scale, complex technical problems in search quality, ranking, query understanding, retrieval, and system reliability.


• Explore the integration of search engine technologies and LLMs to improve user experience and search result relevance.


• Develop algorithms and systems that support next-generation search experiences and new search interaction paradigms.


• Collaborate with product managers, researchers, and engineers to understand user needs and translate them into scalable technical solutions.


• Apply modern machine learning, information retrieval, NLP, and LLM techniques to improve search quality and user perception.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification(s)

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related technical discipline.


• Solid foundation in computer science fundamentals, with strong understanding of data structures, algorithms, and operating systems.


• Strong programming skills and good coding habits; experience with one or more programming languages such as C++, Python, Go or Java.


• Strong curiosity, willingness to learn, and ability to quickly understand and solve complex technical problems.


• Good communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment.


• Able to commit to a 12-week internship in 2027.

Preferred Qualification(s)

• Currently pursuing a Master's degree in Computer Science or a related technical discipline.


• Experience in search, recommendation systems, machine learning, NLP, LLMs, distributed systems, or related areas.


• Demonstrated software engineering experience through internships, research projects, open-source contributions, or publications.


• Award-winning experience in programming competitions such as ICPC, CCPC, NOI, IOI, or other comparable competitions is a plus.


• High levels of creativity, self-motivation, and strong problem-solving capability.