Research Scientist Intern (TikTok Recommendation-Large Recommender Models) - 2026 Start (PhD)
Responsibilities
You'll be joining the TikTok Recommendation team focusing on advancing large-scale recommender systems that power TikTok's personalized content discovery and user experiences. By developing cutting-edge models, we aim to optimize recommendation accuracy, user engagement, and scalability across billions of users. We're looking for Machine Learning Scientists passionate about building high-performance, scalable recommendation systems. You'll leverage advanced deep learning techniques and large-scale systems engineering, collaborating with cross-functional teams to solve complex challenges in personalization and recommendation at scale.
We are looking for talented individuals to join us for an internship in 2026. PhD Internships at TikTok aim to provide students with the opportunity to actively contribute to our products and research, and to the organization's future plans and emerging technologies.
Want more jobs like this?
Get jobs in San Jose, CA delivered to your inbox every week.
PhD internships at TikTok provide students with the opportunity to actively contribute to our products and research, and to the organization's future plans and emerging technologies. Our dynamic internship experience blends hands-on learning, enriching community-building and development events, and collaboration with industry experts.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis - we encourage you to apply early. Please state your availability clearly in your resume (Start date, End date).
Responsibilities
- Research and develop large-scale recommender systems for personalized, engaging user experiences, focusing on scalability, accuracy, and performance.
- Apply advanced machine learning and deep learning techniques to optimize recommendation algorithms for TikTok's diverse user base.
- Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of recommender models, from training and fine-tuning to deployment, monitoring, and continuous improvement.
- Analyze complex data to uncover user preferences, behaviors, and trends, driving personalization and enhancing TikTok's recommendation capabilities.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (infrastructure, product, research, etc.) to design and implement innovative solutions that improve the relevance and diversity of TikTok recommendations.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- Current pursuing a Ph.D. in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Statistics, or a related field.
- Experience in one or more areas of recommender systems, machine learning, computer vision, or natural language processing.
- Proficiency in programming skills, solid foundation in data structures and algorithms.
- Strong familiarity with deep learning architectures such as transformers, CNNs, RNNs, LSTMs, etc.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively in cross-functional teams.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in building large-scale recommender systems that handle vast, diverse datasets and complex user interactions.
- Publications in top-tier venues such as RecSys, SIGGRAPH, CVPR, ICCV, ICML, NeurIPS, ICLR, or similar conferences/journals.
For TikTok
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.