Staff Backend Engineer, Global Online Data Store Platform

Staff Backend Engineer, Global Online Data Store Platform

Location: San Jose

Employment Type: Regular

Job Code: A47419

Responsibilities

The TikTok Datastore Service team designs, builds, and governs the core online storage infrastructure that powers our global products. Our mission is to provide data services with ultimate performance, reliability, and intelligence for hundreds of millions of users and countless business scenarios worldwide. Here, you will tackle world-class challenges in globalization, multi-region active-active architecture, compliance, and cost efficiency, while leveraging AI to drive the evolution of next-generation storage architecture. Responsibilities include:

• Architect, develop, and evolve TikTok's global online data store platform (including databases, caches, and data synchronization), focusing on global business scenarios to solve core challenges such as multi-region deployment, active-active architecture, data consistency, compliance, and cost optimization.
• Pioneer the innovation and implementation of AI in the storage domain, building core AI skills for online data storage. You will explore the deep integration of AI with storage systems (e.g., AI-assisted data insights, AI-assisted architecture governance, anomaly detection) and advance the application of AIOps in large-scale storage systems.
• Act as a subject-matter expert on storage, collaborating closely with business teams and architects. Provide professional technical consultation, and design and drive the implementation of global data storage solutions that meet business needs while ensuring high performance, availability, and consistency.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science or a related field, with 5+ years of experience in backend development or infrastructure engineering.
• Proficiency in at least one mainstream programming language (e.g., Go, C++, Java, Python) with strong coding skills, a commitment to clean code, and an AI-Native coding mindset.
• Deep expertise in at least one mainstream online storage technology (e.g., MySQL, Redis, HBase) with hands-on experience in large-scale online applications.
• Solid foundation in distributed systems theory, with a deep understanding of core principles like distributed consistency, high availability, and scalability.
• Proven ability to design and deliver complex systems.

Preferred Qualifications include:

• Experience with global infrastructure projects, including multi-region deployment, cross-region data synchronization, and data compliance governance.
• Practical experience with AI-Native governance, AIOps, or AI-assisted system optimization.
• Familiarity with emerging paradigms like Agentic Architecture, or experience in designing/implementing agent-based systems.
• A strong passion for technology and a curiosity-driven mindset, with excellent problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills.
• Experience in designing and developing core modules of large-scale distributed systems (e.g., storage, messaging queues, distributed scheduling) is a significant plus.

For Pay TransparencyCompensation Description (Annually)

The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $244800 - $450000 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 the leading destination for short-form mobile video. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok'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 TikTok'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

TikTok 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 TikTok, 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.

TikTok Accommodation

TikTok 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 accommodation, please reach out to us at