Software Engineer Intern

Job Description

About the Company: TikTok

TikTok is the leading global destination for short-form mobile video. Its core mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. With global headquarters in Los Angeles and Singapore, TikTok also maintains offices in major cities worldwide, including New York City, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.

The company values a culture of creativity, innovation, and continuous growth. TikTok emphasizes creating value for its communities, inspiring creativity, and bringing joy through its innovative product. It strives to achieve great things with great people, leading with curiosity, humility, and a desire for impact. The company embraces challenges as opportunities to learn and innovate, fostering an “Always Day 1” mindset to achieve meaningful breakthroughs.

Diversity & Inclusion are central to TikTok’s philosophy. The company is dedicated to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives, reflecting the diverse global communities its platform reaches. TikTok is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations in its recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs, or other legally protected reasons.

About the Job: Software Engineer Intern, TikTok Music (2026 Summer)

This is an internship opportunity for 2026, specifically within the TikTok Music team. The team’s overarching mission is to build resonance and inspire expression through music, encompassing features on both TikTok and SoundOn. Their goal is to inspire music creation and consumption by supporting music artists throughout their entire lifecycle, from creation and discovery to promotion, artist engagement, and monetization.

Internship Program Details:
The internship aims to offer students industry exposure and hands-on experience, fostering the development of fundamental skills and exploration of potential career paths. The program runs for 12 weeks and includes a vibrant blend of social events and enriching development workshops. Interns will apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios, building a strong foundation for personal and professional growth.

Application Process:
Candidates can apply to a maximum of two positions globally across TikTok and its affiliates, with applications reviewed in the order they are submitted. The process operates on a rolling basis, encouraging early applications. Applicants must clearly state their availability (Start date, End date) in their resume.

Summer Start Dates for 2026:
• May 11th, 2026
• May 18th, 2026
• May 26th, 2026
• June 8th, 2026
• June 22nd, 2026

Online Assessment:
Candidates who successfully pass the resume screening will be invited to participate in TikTok’s technical online assessment.

Key Responsibilities of the Intern:
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers, data scientists, UI designers, and other engineers, to iterate on data-driven product ideas.
• Implement both automated and manual test strategies to ensure product quality.
• Gain a deep understanding of how TikTok products function and contribute to building end-to-end solutions.
• Actively learn and grow from working with experienced colleagues and by taking on challenging tasks.
• Contribute to the team’s growth through their own expertise, experience, and unique perspectives.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:
• Currently pursuing an Undergraduate, Graduate, or Master’s degree in Software Development, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Ability to commit to working for the full 12-week duration during Summer 2026.
• Proficiency in Javascript (ES5/6), CSS, and various layout techniques.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Graduating December 2026 onwards, with the clear intent to return to their degree program after the internship’s completion.
• Experience in solving CSS/JS multi-browser compatibility problems and optimizing front-end performance.
• Understanding of construction and continuous integration, with familiarity in at least one construction tool.
• Understanding of component-based development ideas, and familiarity with popular libraries/frameworks such as React, Angular, Vue.js, or any equivalent.
• A strong understanding of back-end technologies and databases is considered a plus.
• Experience with cross-platform development frameworks like Flutter or React Native is also a plus.
• Previous experience in building DSP (Digital Signal Processing) or Music products is an added advantage.

Compensation and Benefits:
The hourly rate for this Campus Intern position is $45-$45.
Interns receive day-one access to health insurance, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, and more. They are also entitled to 10 paid holidays per year and paid sick time (56 hours if hired in the first half of the year, 40 hours if hired in the second half). Interns who are not working 100% remotely may also be eligible for a housing allowance. The company reserves the right to modify these benefits programs.

Special Considerations for Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates:
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with federal, state, and local laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. The company states that criminal history may have a direct, adverse relationship on job duties involving unsupervised contact with clients/colleagues, handling confidential information, and exercising sound judgment, potentially leading to the withdrawal of a conditional employment offer.