Backend Software Engineer Intern (TikTok-Growth-Innovative Growth) - 2027 Summer
Responsibilities
About the team
The TikTok User Growth team is central to the strategic acquisition, engagement, and expansion of TikTok's global user base. Our team focuses on driving user growth through organic traffic channels, content optimization, AIGC technologies, and scalable backend systems across TikTok surfaces such as Web, Lite, and other emerging platforms.
We build growth and content optimization systems that turn search, discovery, data, and AI-driven capabilities into measurable business impact. Typical projects include Search Engine Optimization for organic acquisition, AIGC-powered content generation and quality evaluation, AI / Agentic workflow automation, Auto Research systems for growth opportunity discovery, and backend platforms that support experimentation and large-scale production rollout.
We are looking for talented individuals to join us for an internship. Our internship program offers students hands-on experience, industry exposure, and opportunities to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges while building a strong foundation for personal and professional growth.
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Interns will gain practical experience, explore potential career paths, and participate in social events, learning programs, and development workshops alongside industry professionals.
Candidates may apply to a maximum of two positions across Our Company and its affiliates globally. Applications will be considered in the order they are submitted.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply early. Please clearly state your availability in your resume, including your start and end dates.
Responsibilities:
- Participate in the design and development of backend systems for TikTok user growth, content optimization, experimentation, and organic acquisition.
- Build or improve services, tools, and data pipelines for SEO/GEO, search and discovery, content understanding, content quality evaluation, and traffic optimization.
- Apply AIGC capabilities to support content generation, prompt workflows, quality assessment, and automated optimization for growth scenarios.
- Explore AI / Agentic workflow and Auto Research capabilities, including tool calling, evaluation pipelines, human-in-the-loop workflows, and feedback loops.
- Collaborate with product, data, algorithm, and engineering partners to deliver reliable features, tools, and backend components with measurable impact.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
- Currently pursuing a Bachelor's, Master' degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, or a related technical field.
- Able to commit to working for 12 weeks during the Summer of 2027.
- Familiar with one or more programming languages such as Golang, Python, Java, or C++, with a good understanding of data structures and algorithms.
- Basic understanding of backend development, APIs, databases, cache systems, microservices, or distributed systems.
- Good communication skills, strong learning ability, and willingness to collaborate with cross-functional and international teams.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Internship, project, course, or research experience in backend development, distributed systems, microservices, data platforms, or large-scale consumer-facing systems.
- Experience or strong interest in AI-related backend systems, such as LLM service integration, prompt workflows, model evaluation, vector retrieval, feature serving, or AI-powered automation.
- Experience building or experimenting with AI agents, agentic workflows, AI coding tools, tool-calling applications, or workflow automation systems.
- Experience or interest in search, recommendation, discovery, content platforms, SEO/GEO, growth engineering, experimentation, or traffic optimization.
- Strong self-drive, sense of ownership, and curiosity about applying AIGC technologies to real-world product and engineering problems.
By submitting an application for this role, you accept and agree to our global applicant privacy policy, which may be accessed here: https://careers.tiktok.com/legal/privacy
Perks and Benefits
Health and Wellness
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- HSA
- Life Insurance
- Fitness Subsidies
- Short-Term Disability
- Long-Term Disability
- On-Site Gym
- Mental Health Benefits
- Virtual Fitness Classes
Parental Benefits
- Fertility Benefits
- Adoption Assistance Program
- Family Support Resources
Work Flexibility
- Flexible Work Hours
- Hybrid Work Opportunities
Office Life and Perks
- Casual Dress
- Snacks
- Pet-friendly Office
- Happy Hours
- Some Meals Provided
- Company Outings
- On-Site Cafeteria
- Holiday Events
Vacation and Time Off
- Paid Vacation
- Paid Holidays
- Personal/Sick Days
- Leave of Absence
Financial and Retirement
- 401(K) With Company Matching
- Performance Bonus
- Company Equity
Professional Development
- Promote From Within
- Access to Online Courses
- Leadership Training Program
- Associate or Rotational Training Program
- Mentor Program
Diversity and Inclusion
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program
- Employee Resource Groups (ERG)
Company Videos
Hear directly from employees about what it is like to work at TikTok.