Machine Learning Engineer Graduate - 2026 Start (BS/MS)

TikTok offers an onsite graduate role in San Jose for a Machine Learning Engineer starting in 2026. This position centers on TikTok Data Search and Basic Ranking, employing NLP, computer vision, and large language models to boost search relevance and personalized results. The company provides a competitive salary and a broad benefits program designed to support health, family, and well‑being, along with equity incentives and discretionary bonuses as part of total compensation.

Salary

USD 122,574 - 316,800 annually. Base pay is part of the total package and may vary based on qualifications, skills, and location; eligible for additional discretionary bonuses and incentives.

Location

San Jose, CA (onsite)

Employment Type

Regular

Job Code

A239071

Benefits

• Day one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) 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 at start with tenure-based accruals
• Discretionary bonuses and incentives
• Restricted stock units

About the Team

On the TikTok Search Team, you will develop and deploy state-of-the-art machine learning in real-time, large-scale systems that handle billions of search requests daily. By combining advanced NLP and multi-modal models, our work shapes the search experience for hundreds of millions of users worldwide. The team is exploring how large language models can further enhance TikTok search for the next generation of capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Content understanding: Apply cutting-edge NLP and computer vision methods, leveraging LLMs to align the most relevant videos with each search and continually improve search relevance.
• User behavior modeling: Tackle the ranking and personalization aspects of search to increase relevance and deepen understanding of user needs.
• Video understanding: Utilize NLP, CV, and LLMs to interpret video content and social context, enhancing search authority, credibility, and usefulness.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Software Development, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Strong programming ability with solid fundamentals in algorithms and data structures.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas: NLP, ranking, ads, search engines, recommender systems, distributed systems, and machine learning.

Technologies

Technologies: NLP, CV, LLM

Why Join Us

TikTok is dedicated to inspiring creativity and bringing joy. Our teams are diverse and global, collaborating to build an innovative product that helps people express themselves, discover, and connect. We value meaningful work, cross‑functional teamwork, and a culture that supports growth.

Diversity & Inclusion

TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our workplace reflects the communities we reach, and we actively celebrate diverse voices to achieve our shared goals.

Accommodation

TikTok provides reasonable accommodations in recruiting for candidates with disabilities or other protected reasons. If you need assistance, please reach out via the accommodations request channel provided in our recruitment process.