Switch Software R&D Intern – Network Operating System

Job Description

Network Software Development Engineer Intern (Network Switch) – 2026 Summer (BS/ MS) | ByteDance

The Tone:
This is an internship at ByteDance, a global technology company founded in 2012, known for products like TikTok, Lemon8, and CapCut. The company’s mission is to inspire creativity and enrich life through a diverse suite of more than a dozen products. This role is crucial as it contributes to ByteDance’s in-house Switch R&D team, which is responsible for designing, building, and operating a global, intelligent network infrastructure. Interns will directly contribute to developing a cutting-edge Network Operating System that runs on advanced switch silicon, thereby shaping the future of network infrastructure. This work powers high-performance, programmable, resilient systems for ByteDance’s global platforms, offering hands-on experience with large-scale software development and network operations.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Temporary
• Location: Undisclosed city (potential for Los Angeles County)
• Pay: $45 hourly
• Team: In-house Switch R&D team within ByteDance Networking
• Mission: Design, test, and implement core functionalities and new technologies for the Network Operating System (NOS) to enhance data center network infrastructure.
• Tech Stack: C, C++, Python, Go, Linux command line, Vim, Emacs

What You’ll Actually Do
• Design: Design and test core functionalities of the Network Operating System (NOS), specifically those powering ByteDance’s global data center networks.
• Research: Research and implement new networking, monitoring, and telemetry technologies aimed at enhancing the overall infrastructure.
• Enhance: Work to enhance the efficiency, reliability, and availability of data center infrastructure by deploying these new technologies.
• Develop: Actively participate in the development of ByteDance’s cutting-edge Network Operating System (NOS) that runs on advanced switch silicon.
• Contribute: Contribute directly to shaping networking innovation by working on the high-performance, programmable, and resilient systems that power ByteDance’s global platforms.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Communications, or a related technical field.
• Experience: Able to commit to working for 12 weeks during Summer 2026.
• Skills: Possesses a solid understanding of algorithms and data structures; proficient in at least one programming language, including but not limited to C, C++, Python, or Go; demonstrates a strong interest in high-speed networking, hardware-software interaction, and hardware offloading technologies; has a basic understanding of the operation of switches and routers, along with fundamental knowledge of embedded systems and processor architecture; familiar with Linux systems; comfortable using the Linux command line and editors such as Vim or Emacs.
• Bonus: Experience in network software or protocol development; strong problem-solving skills and proficiency in software debugging and troubleshooting.