Research Scientist Intern (TikTok-Data-Search-Visual Search) - 2027 Start (PhD)

TikTok is a short-form mobile video platform seeking a Research Scientist Intern to contribute to search products and research. The role supports the design, implementation, testing, and improvement of search features and systems using large-scale data, machine learning, and distributed systems while collaborating with cross-functional partners.

What you'll do:

• Support the design, implementation, testing, and iteration of Search features, services, or tools under the guidance of engineers and mentors
• Work with large-scale data, logs, metrics, or experiments to understand user search behavior and improve product or system quality
• Collaborate with engineering, product, data science, and machine learning partners to define requirements and deliver project milestones
• Write clear, maintainable code and documentation for assigned workstreams
• Communicate progress, risks, and learnings with mentors and stakeholders throughout the internship

What they're looking for:

• • Currently pursuing a PhD in Software Development, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• • Must be able to commit to a 12-week full-time work
• • Proficient coding skills and strong algorithm & data structure basis
• • Effective communication and teamwork skills
• • Experience in one or more of the following areas: NLP, Ranking, Ads, search engine, recommender system, distributed system, and machine learning
• As a condition of employment, all successful candidates must be able to establish authorization to work in the United States. For this position, the Company does not provide sponsorship or any immigration-related benefits
• • Experience with search, recommendation, machine learning, information retrieval, natural language processing, ranking, ads, content understanding, or data mining projects
• • Familiarity with databases, distributed systems, data pipelines, experimentation, or large-scale backend services
• • Experience using data to investigate product, user, or system problems
• • Ability to communicate technical ideas clearly and collaborate with cross-functional partners
• • Interest in improving search experiences for large-scale consumer products

Benefits:

• Interns have day one access to health insurance, life insurance, wellbeing benefits and more.
• Interns also receive 10 paid holidays per year and paid sick time (56 hours if hired in first half of year, 40 if hired in second half of year).
• Interns who are not working 100% remote may also be eligible for housing allowance.