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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Senior Software Engineer - Applied Privacy - **Company:** Tiktok Usds - **Location:** San Jose, CA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $187,040 - $359,720 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** AI Evaluation, Java (Programming Language), Artificial Intelligence, Computer Programming, Data Security, Data Systems, Cryptographic Protocols, Python (Programming Language), Machine Learning, Open Source Technology, Software Systems, Privacy Controls, Data Processing, Large Language Models, Multi-Agent Systems, Differential Privacy, Generative AI, Agentic-AI, Information Technology, Privacy-preserving Technologies, Golang - **Published:** November 13, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=a6158931bc45870a ## About the Role Minimum Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience. - Strong experience in applied research, experimental design, or engineering innovation involving privacy, security, AI/ML, or data technologies. - Strong programming skills in Python, Go, Java, or comparable languages, with experience developing substantial software systems and research prototypes. - Experience designing and evaluating complex technical solutions using measurable criteria, benchmarks, and systematic experimentation. - Solid understanding of data protection, secure data processing, privacy engineering, or related technical principles. - Demonstrated ability to lead complex technical initiatives, make architectural trade-offs, and collaborate across engineering or research teams. - Experience translating research findings into practical implementations, reusable software capabilities, or engineering solutions. Preferred Qualifications - Experience with privacy-enhancing technologies such as differential privacy, secure multiparty computation (MPC), private set intersection (PSI), or privacy-preserving computation. - Experience researching or developing applied AI/ML solutions, including LLMs, intelligent analysis, or agentic automation. - Experience with emerging privacy and compliance technologies, including privacy risk detection, automated control verification, or compliance automation. - Experience with AI evaluation, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), tool integration, MCP-compatible interfaces, or agent orchestration frameworks. - Experience with advanced data-processing technologies, cryptographic protocols, federated learning, or secure data collaboration. - Experience transitioning research prototypes into production systems through reference implementations, technical documentation, and engineering collaboration. - Contributions to technical publications, patents, open-source projects, or other research and engineering innovations. ## Description We are a core Governance Engineering team within the TikTok USDS Joint Venture, enabling data protection, software assurance, content assurance, and governance efficiency for hundreds of millions of U.S. users. We build and operate scalable privacy and compliance platforms, governance workflows, systems of record, evidence management, code intelligence, and shared services. Through platform engineering, end-to-end development, Agentic automation, developer-first tooling, and applied research, we turn complex governance requirements into reliable, scalable, and auditable solutions. We're looking for a hands-on Senior Applied Privacy Engineer to lead applied research within our research-driven privacy and compliance innovation team. You'll identify promising technologies, shape research directions, and develop practical solutions to complex governance challenges. Working with Privacy, Security, and Platform Engineering teams, you'll validate solutions through real-world use cases and transfer proven capabilities to engineering owners for productionization and long-term operation. Responsibilities - Lead applied privacy research. Identify high-impact privacy and compliance challenges, prioritize strategic research directions, and evaluate emerging technologies against measurable objectives. - Design privacy-preserving solutions. Architect and prototype privacy-enhancing technologies, secure computation, intelligent analysis, and governance automation using AI/ML where appropriate. - Drive rigorous experimentation. Establish research methodologies, evaluation datasets, benchmarks, and success criteria; systematically analyze performance, privacy risks, and technical trade-offs. - Validate practical applications. Demonstrate technical feasibility and measurable value through working prototypes, controlled implementations, and real governance use cases. - Drive technology transfer. Partner with engineering teams to transition validated research into reusable capabilities, reference implementations, and integration guidance for production adoption. - Advance research and technical thought leadership. Develop differentiated technical contributions and share validated findings through publications, open-source work, or industry engagement, subject to appropriate approvals. - Provide technical leadership. Mentor engineers, lead research and design reviews, collaborate across teams, and communicate technical findings, limitations, and recommendations.