Job description
We are looking for passionate and talented engineers to join us to build and optimize real-time, high-performance, large-scale distributed systems powering TikTok Live experiences. As a Backend Software Engineer with the TikTok Live Foundation in Singapore, you will design, implement, and operate backend services that deliver low-latency livestream features to millions of users globally. You will collaborate with frontend, data, and platform teams to ship reliable APIs, event streams, and storage solutions while maintaining a strong focus on reliability, scalability, and security.
In this role, you will contribute to a modern tech stack, participate in architectural decisions, and own features end-to-end—from design to deployment and monitoring. You will work in a fast-moving, cross-functional environment that values experimentation, code quality, and practical engineering. If you are excited about real-time systems, microservices, and delivering high-impact features that delight users around the world, this opportunity is for you.
TikTok offers you a platform to grow as an engineer, collaborate with world-class teammates, and influence the direction of live streaming technology at scale. Join us to help shape the next generation of live experiences for a global audience.
Responsibility
- Design, implement, and operate scalable backend services powering real-time livestream features for TikTok Live Foundation.
- Build and maintain high-throughput, low-latency distributed systems, microservices, and data pipelines.
- Collaborate with frontend, data, and platform teams to ship robust APIs, event-driven architectures, and storage solutions.
- Optimize latency and throughput; establish observability through monitoring, tracing, and logging; participate in on-call rotations.
- Ensure security, privacy, and compliance across backend services and data flows.
- Contribute to code reviews, architecture discussions, and RFCs; mentor junior engineers.
Qualification
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
- 5+ years of backend development experience in large-scale, production systems.
- Proficiency in at least one modern backend language (Java, Kotlin, Go, or Python).
- Strong experience with REST and/or gRPC APIs, message queues (Kafka, RocketMQ), and distributed data stores (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis).
- Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).
- Familiarity with performance optimization, profiling, and reliability engineering practices.
- Excellent problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.