Machine Learning Engineer Intern (Data-Search-TikTok Recommendation Team) - 2026 Summer (BS/MS)

About the role

The Search Engineering Team at TikTok is responsible for building and owning the search engine that provides users with the best search experience. You will have the opportunity to develop a full-stack search engine system and integrate information retrieval technologies with modern machine learning methods from fields like NLP, CV, and recommender systems.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the improvement of the search core algorithm, possible directions include:
• - Content understanding: Applying cutting-edge NLP and CV technology and leveraging LLM to match the most relevant videos for each search query, and continuously improving the relevance of TikTok search.
• - User Behavior Modeling: Solving the recommendation problem in search, enhancing personalization based on "relevance," and better understanding users.
• - Video understanding: Comprehensive use of NLP, CV, and LLM for better video understanding from both the video itself and its social network context, increasing authority, credibility, and usefulness of search results.

Qualifications

• Must be able to commit to a 12-week full-time work period during Summer 2026.
• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's in Software Development, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Proficient coding skills and strong algorithm & data structure foundation.
• 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.

Job Information

• Compensation Description (Hourly): $42.75- $42.75.
• Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Interns have day one access to health insurance, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, and more. They also receive 10 paid holidays per year and paid sick time (56 hours if hired in the first half of the year, 40 if hired in the second half).
• The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.

TikTok

TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Our 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

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.

TikTok Accommodation

TikTok is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs, or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at https://tinyurl.com/RA-request.