Software Engineer Intern – Data Products

Job Description

Backend Software Engineer Intern (Foundation Platform) – 2026 Summer (BS/MS) | TikTok

The Tone:
This is an internship at TikTok, with start dates in Summer 2026, primarily located in Los Angeles, CA. TikTok is a leading global platform for short-form mobile video, dedicated to inspiring creativity and bringing joy to its users. The company achieves this by building innovative products that facilitate authentic self-expression, discovery, and connection worldwide. This specific internship plays a vital role within the Foundation Platform team, whose mission is to develop scalable, reliable, complicant, and valuable data products. These products are essential for powering the next generation of player development, optimizing multimedia domain experiences, and achieving significant cost savings for the organization. Interns are expected to gain industry exposure and hands-on experience by applying their knowledge in real-world scenarios, contributing to significant projects, and participating in enriching development workshops and social events over a 12-week period.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person, Los Angeles, CA
• Pay: $45 hourly
• Team: Foundation Platform team
• Mission: Develop scalable, reliable, complicant, and valuable data products to power next-generation player development, multimedia optimization, and cost savings.
• Tech Stack: Python, Java, Golang, C#, C++

What You’ll Actually Do
• Feature Development: Design and implement new software features that will directly impact and be utilized by hundreds of millions of users across the globe.
• Complex Problem Solving: Engage in solving unique, large-scale, and highly complex technical problems inherent to a global platform.
• Collaborative Participation: Actively contribute to technical discussions, sharing insights and feedback related to the team’s product development and engineering efforts.
• Data Platform Contribution: Help build and enhance scalable, reliable, complicant, and valuable data products critical for improving player development, optimizing multimedia experiences, and contributing to cost efficiency initiatives.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Currently pursuing an Undergraduate or Master’s degree in Software Development, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience: Able to commit to working for a full 12-week period during the Summer 2026 internship program.
• Skills: Proficiency in at least one programming language among Python, Java, Golang, C#, or C++.
• Bonus: Demonstrated software engineering experience acquired through previous internships, work experience, participation in coding competitions, or publications; includes possessing high levels of creativity and quick problem-solving capabilities.