TikTok

Staff Research Engineer, LLM - TikTok Ads Core ML, Ranking

TikTok • $254K — $480K *
Consumer Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • MS or higher in a quantitative field (Computer Science, Statistics, etc.) with relevant experience in search, ranking, or recommendation.
  • Hands-on experience with machine learning, deep learning, and statistical models.
  • Proficient in C/C++ and Python, with familiarity in data structures and algorithms.
  • Experience in online experimentation and analytics, and with big data systems like Hadoop and Spark.
  • Knowledge of machine learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch).
  • Curiosity and entrepreneurial mindset are valued.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the creation of a global advanced advertising delivery system incorporating innovative technologies and research.
  • Enhance efficiency of the advertising funnel, optimizing various sorting and personalization techniques.
  • Drive key projects and strategic initiatives using expertise in monetization and ranking systems.
  • Develop and continuously improve frameworks to meet diverse business verticals.
  • Collaborate with international product and business teams to amplify overall impact.

Benefits

  • Day one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • 401(k) savings plan with company match.
  • Paid parental leave and short-term/long-term disability coverage.
  • Life insurance and wellbeing benefits.
  • 10 paid holidays and 10 paid sick days per year, plus 17 days of paid personal time.
Full Job Description
Responsibilities

TikTok Ads Core ML Team aims at creating automatic delivery products for the next generation and developing advertising as a business, instead of just a monetization tool to consolidate the delivery funnel framework allowing multiple teams to iterate parallel. We're looking for innovative Staff Research Engineers to join our Core ML Ranking team. Ads Core Ranking team specifically focuses on maximizing delivery system efficiency and revenue growth through state-of-the-art models and frameworks. Our research topics include but not limited to: Generative Retrieval and Large Recommendation Model, LLM-based Ranking Application, and Optimization of System Resource Allocation with ROI target. As part of our team, you will be responsible for: - Spearhead the development of a global advanced advertising delivery system by integrating cutting-edge technologies and research, including ML/DL, Reinforcement Learning, LLM, and scaling laws, within complex monetization scenarios. - Optimize efficiency across the entire advertising funnel, covering Recall & Rough-sort, Fine-sort (CTR/CVR), format/creative personalization, and system resource allocation. - Lead strategic initiatives and drive key projects by leveraging deep business acumen in monetization, ranking, search, and recommendation, ensuring precise technical decision-making. - Establish and refine system frameworks and standards, continuously enhancing efficiency to meet diverse vertical business needs. - Collaborate with product and business teams across global markets to maximize impact. All of our team effort is to continuously pursue and establish a world-leading ranking model & framework that always benefits our collaborators, users and customers to get better returns.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: - MS or above degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Operation Research, Applied Mathematics, Physics or similar quantitative fields, with related experience in any of the following domains: search, ranking or recommendation. - Hands-on experience in one or more of the following areas: machine learning, deep learning, statistical models and applied mathematical methods. - Solid programming skills, proficient in C/C++ and Python. Familiar with basic data structure and algorithms. Familiar with Linux development environment. - Familiarity with online experimentation and analytics. - Familiarity with big data systems including Hadoop and Spark. - Familiar with architecture and implementation of at least one mainstream machine learning programming framework (TensorFlow/Pytorch/MXNet). - Curiosity towards new technologies and entrepreneurship. Preferred Qualifications: - Experience in reinforcement learning, transfer learning, and counter-factual optimization is a plus. - Understanding of the business value of online advertising. - Paper publications in NLP/CV/recommender system domain areas (such as, paper listing, workshop, oral on RecSys/KDD/ICML/NeurIPs/CVPR, etc. ). - Experience in LLM is a plus.

Job Information

[For Pay Transparency]Compensation Description (Annually)

The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $254400 - $480000 annually.

Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, and restricted stock units.

Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Employees have day one access to 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, among others. Employees also receive 10 paid holidays per year, 10 paid sick days per year and 17 days of Paid Personal Time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure).

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

For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates:

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Our company believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship on the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment:

1. Interacting and occasionally having unsupervised contact with internal/external clients and/or colleagues;

2. Appropriately handling and managing confidential information including proprietary and trade secret information and access to information technology systems; and

3. Exercising sound judgment.

About TikTok

TikTok is a social media app that allows users to create and share short videos. The app was launched in 2016 by Chinese tech company ByteDance. TikTok has become one of the most popular social media apps in the world, with over 1 billion active users. The app has been downloaded over 2 billion times worldwide. TikTok has faced controversy over its data privacy practices and its potential ties to the Chinese government. In 2020, the app faced a potential ban in the United States, but a deal was reached with Oracle and Walmart to create a new company called TikTok Global.
Learn more about TikTok
Size
1,750 employees
Industry
Founded
2012

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