CPT Technical Lead Jobs
Technical Lead roles qualify for CPT when your program requires applied engineering leadership as part of the curriculum, and your DSO can authorize it for internship or co-op credits. You'll manage cross-functional teams and own technical architecture decisions, making this one of the more rigorous CPT placements for CS and engineering students.
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About the Team
The Customer Service Product team builds TikTok's AI-powered customer service experience, serving hundreds of millions of users worldwide. We develop AI agents (chatbot and ticketbot) that autonomously resolve user issues — from account access to appeals — and the platform that empowers human agents when AI hands off. Our mission: make help easy to reach, let AI resolve the vast majority of issues, and ensure seamless human handoff for the rest. 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:
- Design and iterate on AI agent capabilities for customer service — including agentic architecture, conversation strategy, knowledge/SOP integration, and tool use — to help AI resolve user issues end-to-end.
- Define clear and precise data metrics (e.g., resolution rate, service quality score, user satisfaction) to best represent business performance, and incorporate data, AI-based evaluation, research, and market analysis to shape product design.
- Dive deep into user needs and pain points in support scenarios, conduct user research and case analysis to conceptualize and build delightful service experiences on TikTok through continuous iteration and experimentation.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
- Currently pursuing an Undergraduate/Master's in computer science, statistics, information management, data science or a related discipline.
- Strong interest in AI/LLM applications; understanding of how large language models and AI agents work.
- Clear and effective communication skills, particularly in collaboration with various teams.
- Empathy for TikTok users, with the ability to translate user pain points in support scenarios into product solutions.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and adapt to changing priorities and needs.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Hands-on experience building with LLMs or AI agents (e.g., prompt engineering, RAG, tool calling, agent frameworks), through coursework, research, internships, or personal projects.
- Knowledge of relevant tools and technologies for data analysis, user research, and product management (e.g., SQL, A/B testing, evaluation design).
Job Information
【For Pay Transparency】Compensation Description (Hourly) - Campus Intern
The hourly rate range for this position in the selected city is $35- $35. 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:
- Interacting and occasionally having unsupervised contact with internal/external clients and/or colleagues;
- Appropriately handling and managing confidential information including proprietary and trade secret information and access to information technology systems; and
- 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
Responsibilities
About the Team
The Customer Service Product team builds TikTok's AI-powered customer service experience, serving hundreds of millions of users worldwide. We develop AI agents (chatbot and ticketbot) that autonomously resolve user issues — from account access to appeals — and the platform that empowers human agents when AI hands off. Our mission: make help easy to reach, let AI resolve the vast majority of issues, and ensure seamless human handoff for the rest. 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:
- Design and iterate on AI agent capabilities for customer service — including agentic architecture, conversation strategy, knowledge/SOP integration, and tool use — to help AI resolve user issues end-to-end.
- Define clear and precise data metrics (e.g., resolution rate, service quality score, user satisfaction) to best represent business performance, and incorporate data, AI-based evaluation, research, and market analysis to shape product design.
- Dive deep into user needs and pain points in support scenarios, conduct user research and case analysis to conceptualize and build delightful service experiences on TikTok through continuous iteration and experimentation.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
- Currently pursuing an Undergraduate/Master's in computer science, statistics, information management, data science or a related discipline.
- Strong interest in AI/LLM applications; understanding of how large language models and AI agents work.
- Clear and effective communication skills, particularly in collaboration with various teams.
- Empathy for TikTok users, with the ability to translate user pain points in support scenarios into product solutions.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and adapt to changing priorities and needs.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Hands-on experience building with LLMs or AI agents (e.g., prompt engineering, RAG, tool calling, agent frameworks), through coursework, research, internships, or personal projects.
- Knowledge of relevant tools and technologies for data analysis, user research, and product management (e.g., SQL, A/B testing, evaluation design).
Job Information
【For Pay Transparency】Compensation Description (Hourly) - Campus Intern
The hourly rate range for this position in the selected city is $35- $35. 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:
- Interacting and occasionally having unsupervised contact with internal/external clients and/or colleagues;
- Appropriately handling and managing confidential information including proprietary and trade secret information and access to information technology systems; and
- 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
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Get Access To All JobsTechnical Lead CPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Technical Lead role qualify as a specialty occupation for CPT purposes?
Yes. Technical Lead roles typically require a bachelor's degree or higher in computer science, engineering, or a related field, which meets USCIS's specialty occupation definition. For CPT, the more relevant question is whether your school's curriculum requires applied leadership experience. Your DSO must confirm that the role's responsibilities, managing engineers, owning technical architecture, or leading delivery, integrate directly into your degree program.
Can I do full-time CPT as a Technical Lead without affecting my OPT eligibility?
Full-time CPT for 12 months or more eliminates your OPT eligibility entirely. If you're planning to use OPT after graduation, keep any single CPT authorization under 12 months in aggregate. Part-time CPT at 20 hours or fewer per week doesn't count toward that threshold regardless of how many semesters you use it.
Will employers accept an I-20 with CPT authorization instead of an EAD for a Technical Lead position?
Most employers familiar with F-1 work authorization will. Your I-20 with the CPT endorsement from your DSO, combined with your valid F-1 visa and passport, satisfies I-9 requirements. The challenge is employers who've only seen EADs before. You can reduce friction by targeting employers with prior LCA filing history, which you can find on Migrate Mate.
What if my Technical Lead role involves managing engineers across different teams, not just writing code?
That scope can actually strengthen your CPT authorization, not weaken it. Programs in systems engineering, software project management, or computer science with a leadership track often explicitly require applied management experience. Ask your DSO to cite the specific course or capstone requirement the role fulfills, particularly if your program has a thesis or practicum tied to engineering management competencies.
How should I handle employers who want me to start before my CPT is authorized?
Don't start before your DSO issues the updated I-20 with CPT authorization for that specific employer and start date. Working without valid CPT authorization is an F-1 status violation and can jeopardize your entire program. If the employer needs you to start immediately, push back on the timeline and ask HR to adjust the start date by five to ten business days to allow for DSO processing.