Data Science Project Intern (Advertising Team) - 2026 Start (BS/MS)

About the Team: Join the TikTok Ads Targeting & Privacy Data Science team, a specialized group operating at the intersection of algorithmic efficiency and user protection. As the digital advertising landscape shifts toward a privacy-first era, our team is responsible for designing the next generation of targeting signals and privacy-preserving frameworks. We are dedicated to solving one of the industrys most complex challenges: How do we maximize advertiser ROI and personalization while rigorously protecting user privacy? We leverage advanced machine learning, causal inference, and differential privacy techniques to build resilient monetization products.

As a project intern, you will have the opportunity to engage in impactful short-term projects that provide you with a glimpse of professional real-world experience. You will gain practical skills through on-the-job learning in a fast-paced work environment and develop a deeper understanding of your career interests.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis - we encourage you to apply early.

Responsibilities

• Analyze Targeting Efficacy: Apply expertise in quantitative analysis to evaluate the performance of ads targeting logic and identify signal loss impact on advertiser outcomes.
• Privacy-First Measurement: Collaborate with Engineering and Product teams to design metrics and experiments that assess the trade-offs between targeting granularity and user privacy.
• Strategic Insights: Analyze large-scale datasets to extract insights on user consent rates, non-personalized ad inventory, and signal resilience, directly influencing the roadmap for privacy-safe monetization.
• Product Experimentation: Design and analyze A/B tests to validate new targeting features and privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs).
• Reporting & Monitoring: Develop dashboards to monitor the health of targeting systems and the stability of ad delivery in a changing regulatory environment.

Minimum Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a degree in a quantitative science field such as Math, Statistics, Engineering, or a related field.
• Proficiency in SQL and at least one scripting language (preferably R/Python).
• Experience in using data visualization tools.
• Experience with large data sets and distributed computing (Hive/Hadoop) is a plus.
• Proactive and independent in driving projects to completion with minimal guidance, including effective prioritization and time management skills.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of effectively presenting analysis results and working collaboratively across diverse teams.
• Strong curiosity; sensitive to data; good at extracting insights from data.