Data Engineer Intern Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Data Engineer Intern roles are among the more accessible sponsored positions for international students on F-1 OPT, with employers regularly filing H-1B visa petitions for strong interns. Most roles require a STEM degree, making you eligible for the 24-month OPT extension. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Ads Data Team builds and manages the petabyte-scale data infrastructure, batch/realtime pipelines and services to support TikTok's global Ads business. We are committed to building a robust data foundation and scalable data applications, unblocking the full potential of advertising data to optimize advertiser experience, boost business growth, and empower strategy execution. 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. It runs for 12 weeks beginning in 2026. Candidates can apply to a maximum of two positions and will be considered for jobs in the order you apply. The application limits are applicable to TikTok and its affiliates' jobs globally. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage you to apply as early as possible. Please state your availability clearly in your resume (Start date, End date).
Summer Start Dates
May 11th, 2026
May 18th, 2026
May 26th, 2026
June 8th, 2026
June 22nd, 2026
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Work closely with Product Managers, Data Scientists/Analysts, and Software/Machine Learning Engineers and other stakeholders to understand data requirements and deliver data solutions that meet business needs.
- Evaluate, implement and maintain data infrastructure tools and technologies to support efficient data processing, storage and query.
- Design, build and optimize scalable data pipelines to ingest, process and transform large volumes of data.
- Design and implement robust data models and visualization to support complex analytical queries and reporting requirements.
- Ensure the data integrity, accuracy and consistency of data by implementing data quality checks, validation processes and monitoring mechanisms.
- Continuously optimize data pipelines, queries and processes to improve performance, reduce latency and enhance scalability.
- Provide rapid response to SLA on-call support to business critical data pipelines.
- Create and maintain good documentation for data assets and promote best practices for data governance within the data user community.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Currently pursuing an Undergraduate/Master in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
- Strong knowledge of SQL and experience working with relational and non-relational databases.
- Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, Go etc.
- Solid understanding of data modeling and data warehousing concepts, data integration and ETL/ELT techniques.
- Effective communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
- Excellent problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
- Able to commit to working for 12 weeks during Summer 2026.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with big data technologies (e.g. Apache Hadoop, Spark, Kafka, Flink) and working with terabyte to petabyte scale data.
- Experience with cloud data warehouses (e.g. Snowflake, Databricks, BigQuery) and modern business intelligence/data stack.
- Experience with data governance, data privacy and compliance.
- Experience in the advertising, e-commerce or gaming industry.
By submitting an application for this role, you accept and agree to our global applicant privacy policy, which may be accessed here: https://careers.tiktok.com/legal/privacy
COMPENSATION
- Compensation Description (Hourly) - Campus Intern
The hourly rate range for this position in the selected city is $45 - $60. 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 the first half of the year, 40 if hired in the second half of the 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
INTRODUCTION
The Ads Data Team builds and manages the petabyte-scale data infrastructure, batch/realtime pipelines and services to support TikTok's global Ads business. We are committed to building a robust data foundation and scalable data applications, unblocking the full potential of advertising data to optimize advertiser experience, boost business growth, and empower strategy execution. 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. It runs for 12 weeks beginning in 2026. Candidates can apply to a maximum of two positions and will be considered for jobs in the order you apply. The application limits are applicable to TikTok and its affiliates' jobs globally. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage you to apply as early as possible. Please state your availability clearly in your resume (Start date, End date).
Summer Start Dates
May 11th, 2026
May 18th, 2026
May 26th, 2026
June 8th, 2026
June 22nd, 2026
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Work closely with Product Managers, Data Scientists/Analysts, and Software/Machine Learning Engineers and other stakeholders to understand data requirements and deliver data solutions that meet business needs.
- Evaluate, implement and maintain data infrastructure tools and technologies to support efficient data processing, storage and query.
- Design, build and optimize scalable data pipelines to ingest, process and transform large volumes of data.
- Design and implement robust data models and visualization to support complex analytical queries and reporting requirements.
- Ensure the data integrity, accuracy and consistency of data by implementing data quality checks, validation processes and monitoring mechanisms.
- Continuously optimize data pipelines, queries and processes to improve performance, reduce latency and enhance scalability.
- Provide rapid response to SLA on-call support to business critical data pipelines.
- Create and maintain good documentation for data assets and promote best practices for data governance within the data user community.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Currently pursuing an Undergraduate/Master in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
- Strong knowledge of SQL and experience working with relational and non-relational databases.
- Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, Go etc.
- Solid understanding of data modeling and data warehousing concepts, data integration and ETL/ELT techniques.
- Effective communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
- Excellent problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
- Able to commit to working for 12 weeks during Summer 2026.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with big data technologies (e.g. Apache Hadoop, Spark, Kafka, Flink) and working with terabyte to petabyte scale data.
- Experience with cloud data warehouses (e.g. Snowflake, Databricks, BigQuery) and modern business intelligence/data stack.
- Experience with data governance, data privacy and compliance.
- Experience in the advertising, e-commerce or gaming industry.
By submitting an application for this role, you accept and agree to our global applicant privacy policy, which may be accessed here: https://careers.tiktok.com/legal/privacy
COMPENSATION
- Compensation Description (Hourly) - Campus Intern
The hourly rate range for this position in the selected city is $45 - $60. 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 the first half of the year, 40 if hired in the second half of the 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
See all 18,906+ Data Engineer Intern Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Data Engineer Intern roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Data Engineer Intern
Target STEM-designated programs
A bachelor's or master's in computer science, data science, or a related STEM field unlocks the 24-month OPT extension. That gives you three years of work authorization, far more time to clear the H-1B lottery.
Ask about conversion rates, not just sponsorship policy
Many tech employers sponsor broadly but convert only a fraction of interns to full-time. Ask directly: how many interns from last year received return offers and eventually H-1B sponsorship? That number matters more than a general policy statement.
Time your internship around H-1B filing windows
H-1B registration opens each March for an October 1 start. If your OPT ends before October, confirm the employer will bridge you with Cap-Gap or an early return offer to avoid a gap in work authorization.
Highlight cloud and pipeline skills in your application
Employers filing H-1B for Data Engineer Interns need to justify a specialty occupation. Roles with specific technical requirements like Spark, Airflow, or cloud infrastructure are easier to sponsor than vague generalist internships.
Look for employers with a history of H-1B filings
Companies that have sponsored Data Engineer roles before understand the process and are less likely to back out. DOL disclosure data shows which employers file regularly for this job title, which is a strong proxy for sponsorship willingness.
Negotiate a return offer before OPT runs out
Securing a full-time return offer during your internship gives you maximum time to prepare your H-1B paperwork. Waiting until OPT is nearly expired leaves little room to handle RFEs or employer delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a company sponsor an H-1B for a Data Engineer Intern?
Yes, though most H-1B visa sponsorship happens at the full-time conversion stage rather than during the internship itself. Employers typically sponsor after extending a return offer. Some larger tech companies do sponsor interns directly if the role is substantial and the student is near graduation, but that's less common.
Does a Data Engineer Intern role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
It generally does when the role requires a degree in computer science, information systems, or a closely related field and involves work like building data pipelines, managing cloud infrastructure, or writing production-level code. Vague internship descriptions that don't specify technical requirements can draw an RFE, so the job duties need to be clearly documented.
What degree do I need to get sponsored for a Data Engineer Intern role?
Most employers require a bachelor's or master's in computer science, data science, information systems, or a related STEM field. A STEM degree also matters for OPT purposes: it unlocks the 24-month extension, giving you three years total to work and clear the H-1B lottery before needing a different visa.
Where can I find Data Engineer Intern jobs that sponsor visas?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international candidates and filters for employers open to sponsorship, so you're not wasting applications on companies that won't file. Searching there lets you focus on roles where sponsorship is already a realistic outcome rather than something you have to negotiate from scratch.
What are my options if I don't win the H-1B lottery after my internship converts to full-time?
You have a few paths: reenter the lottery the following year if your OPT or Cap-Gap covers the gap, transfer to an L-1 visa if you work for a multinational with overseas offices, explore the O-1A if your work is exceptional, or consider the E-3 visa if you hold Australian citizenship. Some candidates also pursue a master's degree to reset their OPT clock.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Data Engineer Intern jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.