Staff Backend Engineer, Core Data Service San Jose Technology - Backend Regular

TikTok; San Jose, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 254,000 - 480,000; Full time

Job summary

TikTok is seeking a Staff Backend Engineer, Core Data Service, to lead the architectural design and evolution of a global core data platform in San Jose. You will drive the implementation of active-active data architectures, optimize metadata management, and push AI-native enhancements across data services.

The role requires 5+ years on large-scale backend distributed systems, with proficiency in Go, C++, or Java, and a track record of delivering complex distributed projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science or related field, with 5+ years of experience.
• Experience designing globalized active-active architectures with data consistency challenges.
• Proficiency in Go, C++, or Java with clean code and AI-Native mindset.
• Proven ability to lead complex distributed systems projects.
• Preferred: AI-Native systems or applying AI/ML to infrastructure.
• Knowledge of distributed storage systems like Redis, RocksDB, or Spanner.
• Excellent problem-solving and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead architectural design and evolution of core data service in a global context.
• Develop core metadata management, storage, and distribution systems; optimize for trillions of data scales and tens of millions of QPS.
• Drive AI integration with core data services for intelligent insights, governance, and automation.
• Define medium-to-long-term technical roadmap for data services and lead the team to overcome key challenges.

Skills

Go

C++

Java

Distributed systems

AI-Native mindset

Architectural design

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Redis

RocksDB

Spanner

Job description

Staff Backend Engineer, Core Data Service

Location:

San Jose

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Code:

A83904

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Responsibilities

• Responsibilities- Lead the architectural design and evolution of the core data service in a global context. Drive the design and implementation of complex solutions for active-active architecture, cross-region data consistency, and high availability, ensuring world-class stability and scalability.
• - Engage deeply in the development of core metadata management, storage, and distribution systems. Continuously optimize for performance to guarantee extreme efficiency under trillion-level data scales and tens of millions of QPS.
• - Explore and drive the deep integration of AI technologies with core data services. Apply an AI-Native mindset to design and implement innovative solutions such as intelligent data insights, AI-assisted architecture governance, and anomalous pattern detection to enhance system intelligence and automation.
• - As a domain expert, analyze business needs and technology trends to define the medium-to-long-term technical roadmap for data services, and lead the team to overcome key technical challenges.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications- Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science or a related field, with 5+ years of experience in developing large-scale backend distributed systems.
• - Extensive hands-on experience in designing and implementing globalized, active-active architectures, with a deep understanding of the associated challenges and proven solutions.
• - Proficiency in at least one mainstream backend language (e.g., Go, C++, Java) with strong coding skills, a commitment to clean code, and an AI-Native coding mindset.
• - Proven ability to lead the design and successful delivery of complex distributed systems projects with demonstrable results.
• Preferred Qualifications- Practical experience with AI-Native systems or AIOps; a proven track record of applying AI/ML technologies to the infrastructure domain is a strong plus.
• - In-depth understanding of the principles of, or source-level contributions to, at least one distributed storage system (e.g., Redis, RocksDB, Spanner).
• - A strong passion for technology, with excellent problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.

Job Information

The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $254400 - $480000 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:

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:

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.

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

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