AI Software Engineer, Tech Lead Manager - Camera Innovation, TikTok

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 Qualification(s): - 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 Qualification(s): - 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.