J-1 Visa Software Applications Engineer Jobs
Software Applications Engineer roles in the United States are accessible to international professionals through J-1 visa sponsorship, most commonly under the Trainee or Research Scholar program category. Designated sponsors issue your DS-2019, and host employers provide the technical training environment. No lottery or annual cap applies.
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The GPU/AI System Technology and Engineering Team is committed to developing highly optimized OS and system software to support deep learning and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads in large-scale data centers. We focus on delivering core software components for the next generation of AI and HPC platforms, benchmarks, and fine-tuning performance. Our work spans the entire hardware/software stack, from GPU drivers to deep learning frameworks, to ensure peak performance across all layers. By joining this team, you will work with the best engineers and talents in this industry and have a broad opportunity to get in touch with the latest AI application systems and newly emerged technology in computing, networking and storage. You will gain remarkable GPU architecture, system software development and GPU validation experience in the most advanced hardware infrastructure on a massive scale. We are looking for talented individuals to join us for an internship in 2026. Internships at TikTok aim to offer students industry exposure and hands-on experience. Turn your ambitions into reality as your inspiration brings infinite opportunities at TikTok. Internships at TikTok aim to provide students with hands-on experience in developing fundamental skills and exploring potential career paths. A vibrant blend of social events and enriching development workshops will be available for you to explore. Here, you will utilize your knowledge in real-world scenarios while laying a strong foundation for personal and professional growth. This internship program runs for 12 weeks beginning in May/June 2026. Successful candidates must be able to commit to one of the following internship start dates below: (Select below options for Summer)
5/11/2026
5/18/2026
5/26/2026
6/8/2026
* 6/22/2026
We will prioritize candidates who are able to commit to these start dates. Please state your availability clearly in your resume (Start date, End date). Candidates can apply to a maximum of two positions and will be considered for jobs in the order you apply. The application limit is applicable to TikTok and its affiliates' jobs globally. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis - we encourage you to apply early.
Responsibilities:
Design and implement performance benchmarks and testing methodologies to evaluate system performance
Develop benchmark tools and performance optimization of AI workloads specifically tailored for large-scale LLM training and inference, as well as High-Performance Computing (HPC).
Develop Python scripts to automate the testing of various benchmark tools.
Collaborate with internal teams to identify system bottleneck, debug and improve performance issues.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
Must be able to commit to a 12-week full-time work period during Summer 2026
Currently pursuing a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD degree within Computer Engineering in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science or related majors.
Background with GPU/CPU benchmarking
Familiar with ML/DL techniques, algorithms and frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch.
Exposure to testing automation for various applications.
Proficiency in Python and C/C++
Hands-on experience with Linux based systems
Ability to work independently and complete projects from beginning to end and in a timely manner
Preferred Qualifications
Strong background in one of the following fields: High Performance Computing, ML Hardware Acceleration (e.g., GPU/TPU/RDMA) or ML for Systems, and Distributed Storage.
Experience in AI model development, training, evaluation and deployment on Cloud, Cluster or on-premises.
Experience with parallel programming and at least one communication runtime (MPI, NCCL, UCX, NVSHMEM)
Experience with development applications with CUDA programming
Linux kernel development experience, such as networking and device drivers etc.
Familiar with git workflow.
Exposure to testing automation for various applications.
Experience with complex system-level debugging is invaluable.
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:
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;
* 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
The GPU/AI System Technology and Engineering Team is committed to developing highly optimized OS and system software to support deep learning and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads in large-scale data centers. We focus on delivering core software components for the next generation of AI and HPC platforms, benchmarks, and fine-tuning performance. Our work spans the entire hardware/software stack, from GPU drivers to deep learning frameworks, to ensure peak performance across all layers. By joining this team, you will work with the best engineers and talents in this industry and have a broad opportunity to get in touch with the latest AI application systems and newly emerged technology in computing, networking and storage. You will gain remarkable GPU architecture, system software development and GPU validation experience in the most advanced hardware infrastructure on a massive scale. We are looking for talented individuals to join us for an internship in 2026. Internships at TikTok aim to offer students industry exposure and hands-on experience. Turn your ambitions into reality as your inspiration brings infinite opportunities at TikTok. Internships at TikTok aim to provide students with hands-on experience in developing fundamental skills and exploring potential career paths. A vibrant blend of social events and enriching development workshops will be available for you to explore. Here, you will utilize your knowledge in real-world scenarios while laying a strong foundation for personal and professional growth. This internship program runs for 12 weeks beginning in May/June 2026. Successful candidates must be able to commit to one of the following internship start dates below: (Select below options for Summer)
5/11/2026
5/18/2026
5/26/2026
6/8/2026
* 6/22/2026
We will prioritize candidates who are able to commit to these start dates. Please state your availability clearly in your resume (Start date, End date). Candidates can apply to a maximum of two positions and will be considered for jobs in the order you apply. The application limit is applicable to TikTok and its affiliates' jobs globally. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis - we encourage you to apply early.
Responsibilities:
Design and implement performance benchmarks and testing methodologies to evaluate system performance
Develop benchmark tools and performance optimization of AI workloads specifically tailored for large-scale LLM training and inference, as well as High-Performance Computing (HPC).
Develop Python scripts to automate the testing of various benchmark tools.
Collaborate with internal teams to identify system bottleneck, debug and improve performance issues.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
Must be able to commit to a 12-week full-time work period during Summer 2026
Currently pursuing a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD degree within Computer Engineering in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science or related majors.
Background with GPU/CPU benchmarking
Familiar with ML/DL techniques, algorithms and frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch.
Exposure to testing automation for various applications.
Proficiency in Python and C/C++
Hands-on experience with Linux based systems
Ability to work independently and complete projects from beginning to end and in a timely manner
Preferred Qualifications
Strong background in one of the following fields: High Performance Computing, ML Hardware Acceleration (e.g., GPU/TPU/RDMA) or ML for Systems, and Distributed Storage.
Experience in AI model development, training, evaluation and deployment on Cloud, Cluster or on-premises.
Experience with parallel programming and at least one communication runtime (MPI, NCCL, UCX, NVSHMEM)
Experience with development applications with CUDA programming
Linux kernel development experience, such as networking and device drivers etc.
Familiar with git workflow.
Exposure to testing automation for various applications.
Experience with complex system-level debugging is invaluable.
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:
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;
* 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 JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Software Applications Engineer
Build a training plan before outreach
Designated sponsors require a formal training plan before issuing your DS-2019. Draft a document outlining the specific software engineering competencies, tools, and milestones your host employer will provide. Vague plans are the most common reason applications stall.
Distinguish Trainee from Intern category early
If you've graduated and have at least one year of professional software engineering experience, you qualify as a Trainee, not an Intern. The distinction affects your maximum program duration and which designated sponsors will process your DS-2019.
Target employers with established J-1 host agreements
Many software companies host J-1 participants but don't advertise it. Search Migrate Mate to identify employers whose roles are flagged as J-1-compatible, narrowing your outreach to hosts already familiar with the DS-2019 and training plan process.
Verify your wage meets DOL prevailing standards
Your host employer must pay the prevailing wage for Software Applications Engineer roles in their region. Use the OFLC Wage Search to check the Level I or Level II rate for your worksite ZIP code before accepting an offer.
Confirm host employer's E-Verify enrollment before signing
Some designated sponsors require host employers to be enrolled in E-Verify before they'll issue a DS-2019. Ask your prospective host employer to confirm enrollment during the offer stage, not after, to avoid delays in your program start date.
Understand the two-year home residency requirement
Government-funded or skills-list-based J-1 programs can trigger a two-year home residency requirement, barring a change to H-1B or green card status until it's fulfilled or waived. Check whether your country and funding source place you in this category before accepting a placement.
Software Applications Engineer jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Software Applications Engineer JobsSoftware Applications Engineer J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to Software Applications Engineer roles?
Most Software Applications Engineers enter under the Trainee category, which covers professionals who have graduated and have at least one year of relevant work experience. Current university students in a degree program may qualify under the Intern category instead. Research Scientists or engineers embedded in academic or institutional research programs may qualify under Research Scholar, depending on the host organization and program structure.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa, the employer or a separate organization?
The J-1 visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization such as IIE, Cultural Vistas, or AIPT, not your hiring employer. The employer acts as your host, providing the training environment, while the designated sponsor issues the DS-2019 form, monitors your program, and handles regulatory compliance. You need both a willing host employer and an approved designated sponsor to proceed.
How do I find host employers open to J-1 engineers?
Most companies don't advertise J-1 compatibility in job postings. Migrate Mate surfaces Software Applications Engineer roles at employers who are open to exchange visitors, saving you from applying to positions where J-1 hosting isn't feasible. Once you identify a match, you'll confirm the host employer's willingness to complete the training plan documentation required by your designated sponsor.
Can the two-year home residency requirement affect my ability to switch to an H-1B later?
Yes. If your J-1 program is government-funded, or if your home country's skills list includes software engineering, you may be subject to a two-year home residency requirement under INA Section 212(e). This bars a direct change to H-1B or permanent resident status until you return home for two years or obtain a waiver from USCIS. Confirm your eligibility status with your designated sponsor before your program begins.
What documentation does a host employer need to provide for a Software Applications Engineer J-1 placement?
Your host employer must complete a detailed training plan, typically using Form DS-7002, that specifies the software engineering skills to be developed, the supervision structure, and measurable performance goals. The designated sponsor reviews this document before issuing your DS-2019. Employers unfamiliar with this requirement often underestimate the specificity required, so sharing a sample training plan early in negotiations helps avoid delays.
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