Search Engineering Intern

Job Description

About the Role
The TikTok Search Engineering Team is responsible for building and owning TikTok’s search engine, aiming to provide users with the best search experience. This role offers the opportunity to build full-stack search engine systems, combining information retrieval technology with modern machine learning methods from fields like NLP, CV, and recommender systems within a culture of self-direction, intellectual curiosity, openness, and problem-solving.

What You’ll Do
• Participate in the improvement of the search core algorithm.
• Apply the industry’s cutting-edge NLP and CV technology and leverage LLM for content understanding to match the most relevant videos for each search query, and continuously improve the relevance of TikTok search.
• Solve the recommendation problem in search, increasing the ability of personalization on the basis of “relevant” and understanding users better through User Behavior Modeling.
• Comprehensively use NLP, CV, as well as LLM for better video understanding from the perspective of the video itself and social network, improving authority, credibility, and usefulness of search results.

You’re a Good Fit If You
• Must be able to commit to a 12-week full-time work period during Summer or Fall 2026.
• Are currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s in Software Development, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Must obtain work authorization in country of employment at the time of hire, and maintain ongoing work authorization during employment.
• Have proficient coding skills and strong algorithm & data structure basis.
• Possess effective communication and teamwork skills.
• Have experience in one or more of the following areas: NLP, Ranking, Ads, search engine, recommender system, distributed system, and machine learning.

Bonus Qualifications
• Graduating December 2026 onwards with intent to return to degree-program after the completion of the internship.
• Demonstrated software engineering experience from previous internship, work experience, coding competitions, or publications.
• Possess high levels of creativity and quick problem-solving capabilities.

Role Highlights & Compensation
• The internship runs for 12 weeks.
• The hourly rate range for this position in the selected city is $45- $60.
• 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.
• Internships provide students with hands-on experience in developing fundamental skills and exploring potential career paths.
• A vibrant blend of social events and enriching development workshops will be available for you to explore.