Backend Software Engineer Intern (TikTok-Social-Foundation) - 2027 Summer

Location: San Jose, California, United States of America Department: Backend

The Social Foundation team at TikTok is at the forefront of innovation in large-scale graph computing. We design and build the core graph infrastructure that powers TikTok's social ecosystem - processing trillions of edges and billions of vertices to deliver real-time relationship insights to billions of users worldwide. Our high-performance engine enables millisecond-level multi-hop queries, dynamic cluster and community detection, and real-time graph mining—directly powering key features such as friend recommendations, live streaming, risk control, and messaging.

Here, every line of code you write will directly impact the social experience of users worldwide. Together, we will redefine how people connect globally.

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.

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

• Design and implement high-performance data storage and management systems for trillion-scale social graph data, ensuring seamless integration and rapid iteration for mission-critical applications.
• Develop distributed graph database engines capable of handling billions of vertices and trillions of edges, enabling millisecond-level multi-hop queries and real-time graph reasoning.
• Build a real-time graph mining platform to extract social relationships, patterns, clusters, and communities, fueling product strategies and personalized recommendations.
• Lead the integration of the Social Graph with core systems (e.g., recommendation, search, risk control) to support social interactions, live-streaming, and various TikTok business use cases.

Minimum Qualifications

• Currently pursuing an Undergraduate/Graduate in Software Development, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Able to commit to working for 12 weeks during the Summer of 2027.
• Proficient in at least one of the following languages: Go, Java, C++, Python.
• Deep understanding of computer architectures, data structures, and algorithms.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Passion about techniques and solving challenging problems.
• Experienced in building backend services for large-scale consumer-facing applications

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