Lead Software Engineer Jobs in California

INTRODUCTION

The Creation team is an international R&D group building creative capabilities for TikTok. We productize cutting-edge AI and multimedia technologies to create world-class creation experiences for TikTok users. Our work spans AI-powered creation, audio/video processing, AR effects, visual and graphics technologies, and full-stack product engineering across mobile, backend, frontend, and desktop. Our team operates globally across China, Singapore, and the United States. Within Creation, the Camera team owns TikTok's core capture and creation experiences, where users start creating and expressing themselves. The Camera Innovation team explores and builds new creation experiences by bringing together product engineering, AI, and multimedia technologies, with a strong focus on rapid experimentation and 0-to-1 innovation. We're looking for a hands-on Technical Lead Manager based in San Jose to lead the Camera Innovation team. This role is ideal for a technical leader who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys building 0-to-1 products, and is excited about turning rapidly evolving AI and multimedia technologies into compelling experiences for TikTok users.

Responsibilities

- Lead the Camera Innovation engineering team, providing hands-on technical leadership, mentorship, and people management.
- Drive technical direction and execution for new camera and creation experiences, from early exploration and prototyping to production.
- Explore and productize emerging AI and multimedia technologies into compelling user experiences.
- Navigate ambiguous and evolving problems, balancing rapid experimentation with technical quality and long-term foundations.
- Partner closely with Product, Design, Algorithm, and engineering teams to shape solutions and drive complex cross-functional initiatives.
- Mentor engineers, raise the team's technical bar, and foster a strong culture of innovation, ownership, and user impact.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

- 5 years of hands-on software engineering experience, with strong technical depth in mobile, backend, AI, multimedia, or related areas.
- 1+ years of experience in people management or technical team leadership.
- Strong programming, system design, and software engineering fundamentals.
- Experience building and shipping complex user-facing products or technical systems.
- Strong problem-solving and communication skills, with demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity and drive cross-functional initiatives.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Experience building 0-to-1 products or working in fast-moving, highly ambiguous environments.
- Experience with AI/ML, generative AI, computer vision, graphics, audio/video, or other multimedia technologies.
- Experience building consumer-facing creation, camera, or creative tools.

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.

JOB INFORMATION

【For Pay Transparency】Compensation Description (Annually) The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $254400 - $588000 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.