Software Engineer Project Intern (Lead Ads) - 2026 Start (BS/MS)

TikTok; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 61,992 - 82,656; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid holidays

Paid sick time

Housing allowance (if applicable)

Job summary

A leading social media platform in San Jose is seeking a Software Engineer Intern to support the development of innovative lead generation solutions. This role involves building scalable systems and collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive product initiatives. Candidates should have a BS/MS in Computer Science or similar, with programming skills in languages like Go, C/C++, and Python. This internship offers a chance to gain real-world experience while working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum qualifications include a BS/MS degree in relevant majors.
• Excellent programming and debugging skills in languages like Go, C/C++, Python.
• Ability to think critically and solve problems clearly.

Responsibilities

• Develop scalable and reliable systems aligned with product requirements.
• Build solutions within lead ads management and CRM integration.
• Collaborate with teams to drive engineering initiatives.

Skills

Programming skills in Go, C/C++, Python

Debugging and optimization skills

Critical thinking

Education

BS/MS degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or related

Tools

Modern software tech stack

Job description

Responsibilities

TikTok Lead Ads team is responsible for building lead generation solutions that enable businesses to create seamless interactions with their customers while ensuring our community feels comfortable and safe on the platform. This team aims to provide intuitive, simplified solutions that grow advertiser activation, retention and ARPA via enhanced delivery experience, performance and higher ROI.

Our team owns the end‑to‑end stack for lead ads, including customer and user experience, ads ranking and delivery, leads management as well as the CRM ecosystem. We are looking for software engineers who are excited to grow their business understanding, build highly scalable and reliable systems, partner across functions with global teams, and make big impacts.

As a project intern, you will have the opportunity to engage in impactful short‑term projects that provide a glimpse of professional real‑world experience. You will gain practical skills through on‑the‑job learning in a fast‑paced work environment and develop a deeper understanding of your career interests.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis – we encourage you to apply early. Successful candidates must be able to commit to at least a three‑month long internship period.

• Responsible for the development of scalable and reliable systems aligned with product targets and requirements.
• Build solutions within areas of lead ads management, CRM integration and ecosystem to lay the foundation of lead ads growth.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to define products and drive initiatives from an engineering perspective.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/MS degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or other relevant majors.
• Excellent programming, debugging, and optimization skills in one or more general purpose programming languages including but not limited to: Go, C/C++, Python.
• Ability to think critically and to formulate solutions to problems in a clear and concise way.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Extensive knowledge of modern software tech stack, including front‑end applications, large‑scale backend, and data pipeline.

Job Information

【For Pay Transparency】Compensation Description (Hourly) – Campus Intern: The hourly rate range for this position in the selected city is $45‑$60.

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 a 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.