About the role#
The Search team builds systems that help users find relevant and engaging content on TikTok. This work involves search retrieval, ranking, query understanding, and infrastructure. As an intern, you will work on large-scale machine learning and data-driven product development to improve search quality for our global user base.
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.
- Collaborate with engineering, product, and data science partners to define requirements and deliver project milestones.
- Write clear, maintainable code and documentation for your assigned workstreams.
- Communicate your progress, risks, and findings to stakeholders throughout the internship.
What you'll need#
- Currently pursuing a Bachelor or Master degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related technical field.
- Experience with at least one programming language such as Python, Java, C++, Go, or JavaScript.
- Familiarity with data structures, algorithms, software engineering fundamentals, and basic system design.
- Experience with projects involving search, recommendation, machine learning, natural language processing, or data mining.
- Familiarity with databases, distributed systems, data pipelines, or large-scale backend services.
- Ability to use data to investigate system or user problems.
- Strong communication skills and an interest in improving search experiences for large-scale consumer products.
Location & details#
- Location: San Jose, California, United States.
- Term: Summer 2027.
- Modality: On-site.
- Employment: Paid, full-time internship.
- Note: This position does not provide visa sponsorship.
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.
