Machine Learning Engineer Intern - TikTok Search Local Services team - 2026 Summer (BS/MS)

TikTok
San Jose, California

About the job

The Data-Search-TikTok-Local Services team enhances local services by improving user discovery of hospitality, dining, and leisure experiences while driving ecosystem growth. They leverage large-scale machine learning to refine search and recommendation systems, focusing on personalized relevance, CTR/CVR prediction, and optimized conversion efficiency for billions of users. Internships at TikTok aim to offer students industry exposure and hands-on experience.

Responsibilities

Participate in the improvement of the search core algorithm, possible directions include:

1. Large Language Model Application: Building AI search for local service needs by deploying and posttraining LLMs, constructing robust and comprehensive RAGs.

2. Content understanding/matching: Applying the industry's cutting-edge LLM technology to match the most relevant videos for each search query, and continuously improve the understading of queries and relevance of TikTok search.

3. User Behavior Modeling: solving the recommendation problem in search, letting TikTok search increase the ability of personalization on the basis of "relevant", and understand users better.

Qualifications

Minimum

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor/Master/PhD in Software Development, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

• Able to commit to working for 12 weeks during Summer 2026.

• Experience with coding in Python, Java, Golang, C#, or C++.

• Experience deploying, training LLMs or building LLM powered applications.

• Must obtain work authorization in the country of employment at the time of hire, and maintain ongoing work authorization during employment.

Preferred

• Graduating December 2026 onwards with intent to return to degree-program after the completion of the internship.

• Experience deploying, training LLMs or building LLM powered applications.

• Demonstrated software engineering or natural language processing, deep learning experience from previous internship, work experience, coding competitions, or publications.

• High levels of creativity and quick problem-solving capabilities.