Tech Lead Software Engineer, AI & Agent - TikTok Ecosystem & Platform

TikTok; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 244,800 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

TikTok, a leading short-form video platform, seeks a Tech Lead Software Engineer to shape AI-enabled backends and governance systems. You will design scalable architectures, integrate LLMs and agents, and collaborate with product, data science, and strategy teams to deliver robust ecosystem solutions.

The role emphasizes building high-performance services, driving best practices, and mentoring engineers in a fast-paced, globally distributed environment.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree in CS or related major.
• Strong knowledge of data structures and algorithms.
• Experience with Go/Java/Python/C++/JavaScript/TypeScript.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement backend architectures integrating LLMs and Agent-driven workflows.
• Design and maintain high-performance backend services focusing on reliability and scalability.
• Develop end-to-end technical solutions addressing content quality and platform governance.

Skills

Data structures

Algorithms

Coding languages

Problem solving

Software engineering

Education

BA/BS in CS or related

Job description

Responsibilities

About the Team

The TikTok PGC-Ecosystem & Platform team is a global team responsible for ensuring the health and sustainable growth of the content ecosystem. We take on the responsibility of building next-generation backend systems powered by AI and Agents, collaborating with product managers, data scientists, and strategy operations teams. Together, we develop intelligent content understanding, risk identification systems, and automated governance platforms - utilizing cutting-edge technologies like LLMs and RAG to ensure high-quality content distribution and a fair, creative environment for users and creators worldwide.

As a core Tech Lead Software Engineer, you will go beyond routine coding to design and implement intelligent, scalable solutions. You will work at the intersection of business logic and cutting-edge technology to drive ecosystem efficiency.

Responsibilities:

• AI & Agent Integration: Collaborate with product managers and data scientists to design and implement backend architectures that integrate LLMs and Agent-driven workflows into real-world business scenarios.
• System Architecture & Optimization: Design and maintain high-performance backend services, ensuring system reliability, scalability, and extensibility to support complex ecosystem governance logic.
• End-to-End Solution Delivery: Deeply understand TikTok’s product ecosystem to develop and deploy end-to-end technical solutions that address content quality and platform integrity.
• Technical Excellence & Growth: Drive engineering best practices within the team, solving complex technical challenges while growing alongside a team of high-caliber engineers.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Actively contribute your technical expertise and perspectives to the product development lifecycle, helping the team iterate and scale effectively.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• BA/BS Degree in Computer Science or related major; Strong knowledge of data structures and algorithms, proficient in at least one coding language, including but not limited to Go, Java, Python, C++, Javascript, TypeScript;
• Curiosity towards new technology and outstanding ability to analyze and solve problems;
• Good grasp of software engineering and how to build a system in scalable and extensive manner.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in LLM and Agent application engineering: Proven experience in shipping real-world LLM applications, such as RAG-based intelligent assistants, Agent-driven business workflow orchestration, or LLM-powered content understanding and decisioning systems.
• Experience with workflow or policy/rule engines: Led or played a core role in the design and development of workflow engines, rule engines, or policy/strategy engines, with a solid understanding of their underlying principles.
• Experience in architecting complex business systems: Experience building complex business systems from the ground up, with deep understanding and hands-on practice in Domain-Driven Design (DDD) and/or Event-Driven Architecture (EDA).
• Background in big data and algorithms: Familiar with data analysis, machine learning, or recommendation system technologies. Experience in domains such as content ecosystem, risk control, search, or related areas is highly preferred.

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

Job Information

【For Pay Transparency】Compensation Description (Annually)

The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $244800 - $450000 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.