TikTok is looking to solve the problem of designing and optimizing planet-scale business architecture to support billions of users worldwide, with a focus on AI, resource management, cost optimization, user experience, and reliability.
Requirements
- PhD degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, Operations Research, Applied Mathematics, or a related field.
- Solid research background in distributed systems, large-scale system optimization, or AI for Systems.
- Proficiency in optimization algorithms (e.g., integer programming, dynamic programming, graph optimization, reinforcement learning) and their application to large-scale optimization problems.
- Proficiency in at least one mainstream programming language (e.g., Go, Java, C++, Python), with the capability to implement algorithms and models into production systems.
- Ability to leverage AI tools and automation methods to efficiently accomplish tasks and enhance productivity, with strong motivation to explore cutting-edge technologies and solve complex industrial-scale problems.
- Experience in data modeling and analysis for large-scale systems or business architectures, with the ability to propose feasible optimization solutions based on business and system characteristics.
- Publication record in top-tier conferences/journals such as OSDI, SOSP, NSDI, SoCC, SIGCOMM, KDD, NeurIPS.
Responsibilities
- Conduct research and optimization for TikTok’s ecosystem, serving billions of users worldwide, supported by globally distributed, ultra-large-scale data center clusters, and the industry’s largest microservice system (over one million distinct services).
- Perform data modeling and algorithmic optimization on complex business architecture systems, applying scientific methods to solve key challenges in ultra-large-scale infrastructure and business architecture, including but not limited to capacity forecasting and planning, service and data placement optimization, traffic scheduling optimization, and risk prediction and prevention.
- Deliver significant business and academic value through architecture optimization: Achieve substantial cost savings at the world’s largest internet scale; Enhance infrastructure planning and decision-making for global-scale businesses through AI and algorithm capabilities; Enable highly automated and intelligent large-scale architecture governance; Produce research outcomes in real-world frontier architecture scenarios suitable for publication at top-tier academic conferences/journals.
- Translate research outcomes into engineering solutions deployable in production, achieving a complete loop from theory to practice.
- Collaborate with architects, infrastructure, and business teams to drive global-scale deployment and adoption of optimization solutions.
- Continuously explore cutting-edge technologies and methodologies to shape the next 3–5 years of TikTok’s global business architecture evolution.
Other
- Commit to an onboarding date by end of year 2026.
- State availability and graduation date clearly in resume.
- PhD degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, Operations Research, Applied Mathematics, or a related field.
- Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to model planet-scale, complex business and infrastructure systems, abstract key variables and constraints, and clearly articulate solutions through rigorous logical reasoning and effective communication.
- Ability to work with internal/external clients and/or colleagues, handle confidential information, and exercise sound judgment.
