Machine Learning Engineer Graduate (Monetization Technology - TikTok Ads Creative & Ecosystem) - 2026 Start (BS/MS)

Responsibilities

A "creative" is the ad (in the form of a short-form video) served to TikTok users, composed of video, background music, call-to-action card, post-click landing page, and other formats that get delivered to users. A quote goes "creativity is the soul of advertising", because a good ad creative is effective, yet difficult to produce, especially at the scale of TikTok advertising.

The TikTok Ads Creative & Ecosystem team's mission is to solve the above dilemma, by building industry-leading tech solutions for ads creative/landing page understanding, production/generation, and optimization, to inspire and empower advertisers, creators, and other 3rd parties in the ecosystem to create and deliver the best engaging creative experiences to the end users. Our work is at the core of TikTok and creator monetization. Examples of our team's work include TikTok video editor, AI-powered smart video generation (we are also exploring AIGC), and TikTok creative exchange (a creative marketplace to connect TikTok advertisers with creators or third-party creative agencies).

We are user/product oriented and dedicated to technical excellence. We aim to drive and lead the technology renovation in the ads tech and creative industry, powering products and driving values for our clients, creators, and the whole ecosystem.

We are looking for talented individuals to join our team in 2026. As a graduate, you will get opportunities to pursue bold ideas, tackle complex challenges, and unlock limitless growth. Launch your career where inspiration is infinite at TikTok.

Successful candidates must be able to commit to an onboarding date by end of year 2026. Please state your availability and graduation date clearly in your resume.

Candidates can apply to a maximum of two positions and will be considered for jobs in the order you apply. The application limit is applicable to TikTok and its affiliates' jobs globally. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis - we encourage you to apply early.

Responsibilities:
1. Apply algorithms to gain insights into advertisers, creators, and creatives, helping to improve the precision of match-making in the system.
2. Assist in conducting online modeling on large-scale commercial traffic, optimizing how creatives are distributed within the recommendation and ads systems.
3. Contribute to the development of strategies that optimize the allocation of both natural and ad traffic, aimed at increasing short-term and long-term value for advertisers and creators.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:
1. Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science or a related technical field.
2. Relevant development experience with expertise in machine learning (RecSys/NLP/CV/GE), and hands-on experience with recommendation systems, computational advertising, or operational planning algorithms.
3. Strong foundation in data structures and algorithms, with proficiency in Python, C++, or Golang.
4. Proven analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a passion for learning new technologies.
5. Strong team player with excellent communication skills and experience in project management.

Preferred Qualifications:
1. Experience with large-scale machine learning systems or cloud-based platforms (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud, Azure).
2. Knowledge of advanced machine learning techniques such as deep learning or reinforcement learning.
3. Familiarity with A/B testing and performance optimization in recommendation systems and advertising algorithms.
4. Demonstrated ability to drive innovation and business growth through technical leadership and strategic thinking.

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

Job Information

[For Pay Transparency] Compensation Description (annually)

The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $115200 - $231000 annually.

Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, and restricted stock units.

Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Employees have day one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) savings plan with company match, paid parental leave, short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, among others. Employees also receive 10 paid holidays per year, 10 paid sick days per year and 17 days of Paid Personal Time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure).