Research Scientist Graduate (TikTok Recommendation-Agentic AI) - 2026 Start (PhD)

Overview

Research Scientist Graduate (TikTok Recommendation-Agentic AI) - 2026 Start (PhD)

Applications reviewed on a rolling basis. Narratives about onboarding dates and early application notices are retained only as context and not as job instructions.

Responsibilities

• Design and construct reinforcement learning datasets tailored for recommendation scenarios.
• Explore and optimize reinforcement learning algorithms, and develop scalable training and inference frameworks.
• Conduct research on agentic recommendation systems and generative recommendation models.
• Stay up to date with the latest state-of-the-art advancements in relevant areas, and translate research ideas into real-world applications.

Qualifications

• Final-year Ph.D. candidate or recent Ph.D. graduate in Computer Science or a related field.
• Strong knowledge and hands-on experience in at least one of the following areas: reinforcement learning, agent development, or LLM post-training.
• Passion for exploring cutting-edge research topics and bridging theory with practice.

Preferred Qualifications

• Publications in top-tier conferences such as NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, AAAI, IJCAI, RecSys, KDD, or WSDM.
• Internship or project experience related to reinforcement learning, agent-based systems, or LLM alignment/post-training.

Job Information

• Compensation: Base salary range for this position in the selected city is $136,800 - $359,720 annually. Total compensation may include bonuses/incentives and restricted stock units. Location-specific factors apply.
• Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance from day one, 401(k) with company match, paid parental leave, disability coverage, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, and paid time off (holidays, sick days, and paid personal time).

Work Authorization & Additional Information

For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) candidates: qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act. The company highlights potential impacts of criminal history on job duties and conditional offers.

About TikTok

TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy, with offices globally including Los Angeles, Singapore, New York, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.

Diversity & Inclusion

TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills and perspectives. We celebrate diverse voices and aim to reflect the communities we reach.