Backend Engineer Intern (TikTok Search Architecture) - 2026 Start (BS/MS)

Responsibilities

Team Introduction

Our Search Architecture Team is responsible for building up and optimizing the architecture for our Search Engine to provide the best experience for our TikTok Search users. This person will be responsible for the design and development of the search system architecture, ensuring system stability and high availability; responsible for online services, offline data flow performance optimization, solving performance bottlenecks, reducing costs and unlocking.

We are looking for talented individuals to join us for an internship in 2026. Internships at TikTok aim to offer students industry exposure and hands-on experience. Watch your ambitions become reality as your inspiration brings infinite opportunities at TikTok.

Candidates can apply to a maximum of two positions and will be considered for jobs in the order you apply. The application limit is applicable to TikTok and its affiliates' jobs globally.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis - we encourage you to apply early.

Successful candidates must be able to commit to at least 3 months long internship period.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the search system of TikTok and its affiliated products, and solving the architecture optimization problem of the search architecture system.
• Support the design and development of the search system, and the output core search capabilities of bytes and high-quality content to partners.
• Focus on architecture abstraction and process optimization for search scenarios, support large-scale machine learning optimization.
  
  

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Undergraduate or Postgraduate currently pursuing a Degree/Master in Software Development, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience in programming, included but not limited to, the following programming languages: C++, Java or Golang.
• Strong programming and problem-solving ability.
• Effective communication skills and a sense of ownership and drive.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong learning ability.
• Passionate about technology.
• Curiosity and Self-motivated.
  
  

By submitting an application for this role, you accept and agree to our global applicant privacy policy, which may be accessed here: https://careers.tiktok.com/legal/privacy

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at [email protected]

Job Information

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.