Research Scientist Intern; Compute Platform - Database Acceleration PhD

Research Scientist Intern (Compute Platform - Database Acceleration) - 2026 Start (PhD)

Location:

San Jose

Employment Type:

Intern

Job Code: A207630A

Responsibilities:

Team Introduction:
The Data Platform team works on challenges in big data infrastructure and data products. Our team focuses on internal tools relating to OLAP DBMS, logging and data ingestion infrastructure, A/B testing for all product and feature launches, workflow management, distributed cache, data visualization tools, and big data engineering, which supports Tik Tok's business products. Data-Data Platform-Compute Platform - DB Boost team focuses on building the next generation DBMS kernel aiming for the best-in-class query latency and hardware utilization.

The team operates the distributed OLAP infrastructure powering cloud native data warehouse, which is the foundation behind data-driven decision-making within Tik Tok. We are looking for talented individuals to join us for an internship in 2026. PhD Internships at our Company 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.

Responsibilities:

• Design and develop kernel modules or core features for cloud-native distributed analytical database systems
• Conduct research for cutting-edge technology evolvement in database and data management area and identify the potential future directions
• Solve unique and complex problems on large-scale, high-performance cloud infrastructure
• Partner with different teams on building backend support for cloud native database service

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Currently has or is in the process of obtaining a PhD in Computer Science, related STEM or quantitative field
• Experience with at least one system programming language: C++, Rust etc.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Research or deep working experience in OLAP databases and data management systems is preferred, including but not limited to database kernel, query processing, query optimization, storage system, hardware acceleration, cloud native infrastructure, etc.
• Experience with open-source and industry databases and data management systems like Velox, Data Fusion, DuckDB, Polars, Clickhouse, Spark, Presto etc is a plus
• Passionate & experienced for contributing to open source communities
• High levels of creativity and quick problem-solving capabilities

Job Information:

For Pay Transparency Compensation Description (Hourly) - Campus Intern

The hourly rate range for this position in the selected city is $36- $45.

Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Interns have day one access to health insurance, life insurance, wellbeing benefits and more. Interns also receive 10 paid holidays per year and paid sick time (56 hours if hired in first half of year, 40 if hired in second half of year). Interns who are not working 100% remote may also be eligible for housing allowance.

The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.

About Tik Tok:

Tik Tok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. At Tik Tok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. Tik Tok's global headquarters are in Los Angeles and Singapore, and we also have offices in New York City, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.

Why Join Us:

Inspiring creativity is at the core of Tik Tok's mission. Our innovative product is built to help people authentically express themselves, discover and connect – and our global, diverse teams make that possible. Together, we create value for our communities, inspire creativity and bring joy - a mission we work towards every day.

We strive to do great things with great people. We lead with curiosity, humility, and a desire to make impact in a rapidly growing tech company. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and innovate as one team. We're resilient and embrace challenges as they come. By constantly iterating and fostering an "Always Day 1" mindset, we achieve meaningful breakthroughs for ourselves, our company, and our users.

When we create and grow together, the possibilities are limitless. Join us.

Diversity & Inclusion:

Tik Tok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At Tik Tok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach.

We are passionate about this and hope you are too.

Tik Tok Accommodation:

Tik Tok is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable…