(General Hire) Machine Learning Engineer, Data-Search - San Jose - 2026 Start (PhD)

Summary

TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video, and they are seeking a Machine Learning Engineer to develop and apply cutting-edge machine learning technologies in their Data Search Department. The role involves improving the search core algorithm using advanced NLP and CV techniques to enhance user experience and personalization in search results.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the improvement of the search core algorithm, possible directions include:
• Content understanding: Applying the industry's cutting-edge NLP and CV technology and leveraging LLM to match the most relevant videos for each search query, and continuously improve the relevance of TikTok search
• User Behavior Modeling: solving the recommendation problem in search, let TikTok search increase the ability of personalization on the basis of "relevant", and understand users better
• Video understanding: comprehensive use of NLP, CV, as well as LLM for better video understanding from the perspective of the video itself and social network, improve authority, credibility, and usefulness of search results

Required Qualifications

• Final year or recent graduate with a background in Software Development, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• Must obtain work authorization in country of employment at the time of hire, and maintain ongoing work authorization during employment
• Proficient coding skills and strong algorithm & data structure basis
• Effective communication and teamwork skills
• Experience in one or more of the following areas: NLP, Ranking, Ads, search engine, recommender system, distributed system, and machine learning

Required Skills

NLP, Machine Learning, Software Development

Important Skills

Data Structures, Algorithms, Recommender Systems

Nice-to-Have Skills

Effective Communication, Teamwork

Benefits

• 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
• 10 paid holidays per year
• 10 paid sick days per year
• 17 days of Paid Personal Time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure)