Machine Learning Engineer Intern (Monetization Technology - Ads Creative) - 2026 Start (BS/MS)

Responsibilities

A "creative" is the ad (in the form of a short-form video) served to TikTok users, composed of video, background music, call-to-action card, post-click landing page, and other formats that get delivered to users.

The TikTok Ads Creative & Ecosystem team's mission is to solve the above dilemma, by building industry-leading tech solutions for ads creative/landing page understanding, production/generation, and optimization, to inspire and empower advertisers, creators, and other 3rd parties in the ecosystem to create and deliver the best engaging creative experiences to the end users. Our work is at the core of TikTok and creator monetization.

• Examples of our team's work include TikTok video editor, AI-powered smart video generation (we are also exploring AIGC), and TikTok creative exchange (a creative marketplace to connect TikTok advertisers with creators or third-party creative agencies).

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science or a related field.
• Research/internship experience or coursework in machine learning (e.g., RecSys, NLP, CV, GE), with a preference for candidates with exposure to recommendation systems.
• Solid understanding of data structures and algorithms, with proficiency in at least one programming language (e.g., Python, C++, Golang).
• Strong interest in exploring new technologies, with a demonstrated ability to analyze problems and find solutions.
• Good communication skills, with an eagerness to collaborate within a team and learn from peers.
• Strong enthusiasm for contributing to business growth and willingness to take on challenges in a dynamic environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous internship or research experience in machine learning/deep learning, with a focus on recommendation systems, or advanced ranking solution strategies like RAG/LoRA/MoE etc.
• Familiarity with large-scale data processing and distributed systems.
• Exposure to reinforcement learning or deep learning techniques for optimizing recommendation systems.
• Knowledge of A/B testing and other experimental design techniques to evaluate algorithm performance.
• Strong interest in content personalization and ad optimization technologies.
• Experience with model deployment or working in production environments.

Job Information

• [For Pay Transparency] Compensation Description (Hourly) - Campus Intern: The hourly rate range for this position in the selected city is $45- $60. 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. 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. The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.

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.

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.