Software Engineer Intern (Recommendation Infrastructure) – 2026 Start (PhD)
TikTok · Content Creators, Content Discovery
About this internship
TikTok is hiring a Software Engineer Intern (Recommendation Infrastructure) for a 2026 PhD start, based on-site in San Jose, CA. This internship is designed for PhD students in Computer Science or a related technical discipline who can commit to 12 weeks during Summer 2026. Pay is listed at $60/hr, and you must have and maintain work authorization in the country of employment at the time of hire.
Qualifications
Required
- Pursuing PhD in Computer Science or a related technical discipline
- Able to commit to working for 12 weeks during Summer 2026
- Must obtain work authorization in country of employment at the time of hire, and maintain ongoing work authorization during employment.
Nice to have
- Strong foundation in core computer science concepts gained through PhD coursework or research.
- Experience building or analyzing systems related to recommendation, content discovery, or personalization through academic projects.
- Ability to translate open-ended research problems into well-scoped engineering tasks and iterate based on results.
- Comfort collaborating with others on technical work and communicating progress and trade-offs clearly.
How to stand out (TUN tip)
Before applying, confirm you can be on-site in San Jose for the full 12 weeks in Summer 2026 and that your work authorization will be valid for the entire internship. On your resume, highlight 1–2 PhD projects most relevant to recommendation infrastructure or content discovery, focusing on what you built and the impact you measured.