About the role#
The Search team builds systems that help users find relevant and engaging content on TikTok. This work involves search retrieval, ranking, recommendation signals, query understanding, and infrastructure. As an intern, you will contribute to our products and research while working alongside industry experts.
What you'll do#
- Support the design, implementation, and testing of search features and tools under the guidance of mentors.
- Analyze large-scale data, logs, and metrics to understand user search behavior and improve system quality.
- Partner with engineering, product, and data science teams to define requirements and meet project milestones.
- Write clear, maintainable code and document your workstreams.
- Share progress, risks, and findings with stakeholders throughout your internship.
What you'll need#
- You are currently pursuing a PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Development, or a related field.
- You can commit to 12 weeks of full-time work.
- You have proficient coding skills and a strong foundation in algorithms and data structures.
- You have experience in areas like NLP, ranking, machine learning, recommender systems, or distributed systems.
- You are familiar with databases, data pipelines, or large-scale backend services.
- You have experience using data to investigate product or system problems.
- You can communicate technical ideas clearly and work well with others.
Location & details#
- Location: San Jose, California
- Employment type: Full-time internship
- Compensation: $60 per hour
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis
About TikTok
TikTok operates as an entertainment provider. The company maintains a global presence with offices in cities including Los Angeles, Singapore, New York, London, and Tokyo. It employs over 92,000 people. The organization is privately held.
How to get in at TikTok
Landing an internship at TikTok requires speed because early applicants often get seen before the pile grows. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published anywhere, so you can apply among the first. This gives you a better chance of your resume being reviewed while the team is still actively filling the position. You should aim to be one of the first people to submit your materials. Reaching out to the right person can also improve your chances of getting a response. Intern Insider surfaces the recruiters behind the company roles so you can contact them directly to ask about the role or a referral. This direct approach often works better than waiting for a response from a general application queue.
