Backend Engineer Internships
Backend engineer internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience, mentorship from working engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Roles are concentrated across Technology & Software, with TikTok and DELSYS among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 8+ Backend Engineer Internships
Backend Software Engineer Intern (Creation Platform) - 2027 Summer
Location
:
San Jose
Employment Type
:
Intern
Job Code
:
A00235C
Responsibilities
The Creation Platform team, as the cornerstone of TikTok content creation, is responsible for the core content creation ecosystem of TikTok. As a backend team, we collaborate closely with the product team and other cross-functional teams to explore innovative methods of content creation in TikTok, build a trusted content creation platform that prioritizes privacy and security, and drive the evolution of TikTok content creation infrastructure, ultimately providing the best content creation experience for TikTok creators.
We are looking for talented individuals to join us for an internship. Our internship program offers students hands-on experience, industry exposure, and opportunities to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges while building a strong foundation for personal and professional growth.
Interns will gain practical experience, explore potential career paths, and participate in social events, learning programs, and development workshops alongside industry professionals.
Candidates may apply to a maximum of two positions across Our Company and its affiliates globally. Applications will be considered in the order they are submitted.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply early. Please clearly state your availability in your resume, including your start and end dates.
Responsibilities
- Directly design and develop features touching global users, and bring real-world impact.
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to explore innovative product ideas and cutting-edge technologies.
- Work with experts in different technical domains to identify and solve challenging issues in the world-leading multimedia infrastructure.
- Evolve the architecture of global large-scale distributed backend systems to better support TikTok's future.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Currently pursuing an Undergraduate/Master in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or a related technical discipline.
- Proficient in at least one programming language such as Golang, Java, C++, Python.
- Solid understanding of computer architectures, data structures, and algorithms.
- Hands-on experience in commonly-used technical stacks such as databases, caches, message queues.
- Responsible, self-motivated, and have a growth mindset.
- Experience in building large scale distributed backend services for consumer-facing applications.
- Knowledge of multimedia technologies such as video codecs, media containers.
- Good team communication and collaboration skills.
Job Information
【For Pay Transparency】Compensation Description (Hourly) - Campus Intern
The hourly rate range for this position in the selected city is $45- $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.
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
https://tinyurl.com/RA-request
Backend Software Engineer Intern (Creation Platform) - 2027 Summer
Location
:
San Jose
Employment Type
:
Intern
Job Code
:
A00235C
Responsibilities
The Creation Platform team, as the cornerstone of TikTok content creation, is responsible for the core content creation ecosystem of TikTok. As a backend team, we collaborate closely with the product team and other cross-functional teams to explore innovative methods of content creation in TikTok, build a trusted content creation platform that prioritizes privacy and security, and drive the evolution of TikTok content creation infrastructure, ultimately providing the best content creation experience for TikTok creators.
We are looking for talented individuals to join us for an internship. Our internship program offers students hands-on experience, industry exposure, and opportunities to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges while building a strong foundation for personal and professional growth.
Interns will gain practical experience, explore potential career paths, and participate in social events, learning programs, and development workshops alongside industry professionals.
Candidates may apply to a maximum of two positions across Our Company and its affiliates globally. Applications will be considered in the order they are submitted.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply early. Please clearly state your availability in your resume, including your start and end dates.
Responsibilities
- Directly design and develop features touching global users, and bring real-world impact.
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to explore innovative product ideas and cutting-edge technologies.
- Work with experts in different technical domains to identify and solve challenging issues in the world-leading multimedia infrastructure.
- Evolve the architecture of global large-scale distributed backend systems to better support TikTok's future.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Currently pursuing an Undergraduate/Master in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or a related technical discipline.
- Proficient in at least one programming language such as Golang, Java, C++, Python.
- Solid understanding of computer architectures, data structures, and algorithms.
- Hands-on experience in commonly-used technical stacks such as databases, caches, message queues.
- Responsible, self-motivated, and have a growth mindset.
- Experience in building large scale distributed backend services for consumer-facing applications.
- Knowledge of multimedia technologies such as video codecs, media containers.
- Good team communication and collaboration skills.
Job Information
【For Pay Transparency】Compensation Description (Hourly) - Campus Intern
The hourly rate range for this position in the selected city is $45- $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.
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
https://tinyurl.com/RA-request
Backend Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
Tips for Your Backend Engineer Internship Search
Apply earlier than the role seems urgent
Large employers recruit summer backend engineer interns the preceding fall, with some applications opening in August. Smaller companies and co-op programs post much closer to start dates. Check listings consistently from early fall onward rather than waiting for a single hiring window to open.
Build a portfolio before you need one
Hiring teams for backend engineer internships want to see what you can build, not just what you have studied. Two or three complete projects on GitHub, each with a clear README describing the problem, the stack you used, and how to run it, give recruiters something to evaluate before they even look at your resume.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and recruiters at fairs often move faster for students they meet in person. Professors and career center staff frequently know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts alongside campus activity widens the pool you reach.
Practice coding interviews out loud before you apply
Backend engineer intern screens typically involve data structures and algorithms problems where the interviewer weighs how you think as much as your final answer. Practice talking through your approach step by step before each interview, not just coding silently. Platforms like LeetCode let you work on the actual problem types that appear in these screens.
Target structured internship programs at larger companies
Many larger tech and software companies run formal summer engineering cohorts designed specifically for students new to professional backend development. These programs include structured onboarding, assigned mentors, and defined project tracks. They recruit early and fill fast, so identify the programs that fit your background and apply in the first wave of applications.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 100% of the backend engineer internships listed here. Decide what you can actually commit to before you start sorting through listings. Use the location and work-type filters on Migrate Mate to see only remote, hybrid, or on-site roles so you're not spending time on positions you cannot take.
Backend Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a backend engineer internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A GitHub repository showing real backend work (APIs, databases, or services you built and documented) gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Apply directly to companies and attend campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a backend engineer internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What actually drives it is your performance on real work, whether the team has headcount open, and the timing of their return-offer decisions. Treat the internship as an audition, deliver on your assigned projects and ask for feedback early rather than counting on an offer.
When should I apply for backend engineer internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large tech and finance employers open summer internship applications the preceding fall, sometimes as early as August or September. Smaller companies and co-op programs post much closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Check listings regularly and apply as soon as a role opens rather than waiting for a single recruiting season.
Are backend engineer internships paid?
Most professional backend engineer internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location. Where an employer discloses pay, it appears in the listing, so check each posting directly for what the role offers rather than relying on general estimates.
What should a backend engineer internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that name the languages, frameworks, and tools you used, with a link to the code on GitHub or another public repository so reviewers can see the actual implementation. Add relevant coursework, list technical skills clearly, and keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote backend engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 0% of the backend engineer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts tend to fill fast because they draw applicants from across the country, so apply early once you find a role that fits. Use the work-type filter to see remote and hybrid openings separately from on-site ones.
Can international students get backend engineer internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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