About the role#
The Search Engineering Team builds and maintains the search engine for TikTok. You will work on full-stack search systems, combining information retrieval with machine learning methods like NLP, CV, and recommender systems. This role is for a PhD intern starting in 2026.
What you'll do#
- Improve the search core algorithm.
- Use NLP, CV, and LLMs to match relevant videos to search queries.
- Solve recommendation problems to increase personalization and user understanding.
- Analyze video content and social network data to improve the authority, credibility, and usefulness of search results.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment in a PhD program for Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Development, or a related field.
- Ability to commit to 12 weeks of full-time work.
- Proficient coding skills with a strong foundation in algorithms and data structures.
- Experience in one or more areas: NLP, Ranking, Ads, search engines, recommender systems, distributed systems, or machine learning.
- Effective communication and teamwork skills.
- Demonstrated software engineering experience through internships, work, coding competitions, or publications.
- Creativity and problem-solving capabilities.
Location & details#
- Location: San Jose, California.
- Work modality: On-site.
- Employment type: Full-time intern.
- Compensation: $60 per hour.
- Review process: 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.
