SRE Tech Lead/Expert

About the Team

We manage critical infrastructure systems across storage, computing, and databases. As a leading SRE team at TikTok's Technical Infrastructure, we solve complex scalability challenges through expert system design and automation. You'll work independently on diverse projects while receiving strong mentorship, applying your skills in coding, algorithms, and systems architecture to maintain reliable infrastructure at scale. Our team combines technical excellence with a collaborative culture that values intellectual curiosity and diverse perspectives. We provide an environment where engineers can take ownership of projects while growing their expertise in large-scale system design and operations.

• Grow and lead a high-performing SRE engineering team focused on developing and maintaining scalable, production-grade AI Platform systems, with emphasis on reliability, performance, and operational excellence
• Balance hands-on technical contributions in system design and implementation while effectively managing team growth, performance, and professional development
• Provide strategic technical direction and architectural guidance to strengthen engineering practices, mentor team members, and drive technical excellence across collaborative projects
• Build and maintain strong partnerships across engineering teams, business units, and external stakeholders to align technical initiatives with organizational goals and drive successful outcomes
• Champion innovation within the team by evaluating emerging technologies, implementing modern engineering practices, and driving continuous improvements to the AI Platform infrastructure

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related technical field involving software/system engineering, or equivalent working experience
• Solid foundation in software engineering principles, algorithms, and data structures
• Deep understanding of Linux systems, distributed storage architectures, networking fundamentals, and system performance optimization
• Proficiency in at least one modern programming language (Python, Go, or Java), experienced in applying software design patterns and clean code principles in production environments
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams through complex projects and changing priorities

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant software engineering experience, including team leadership
• Extensive hands-on experience with distributed storage technologies (KV stores, Redis, MySQL, MongoDB)
• Strong background in message queuing systems (Kafka, RabbitMQ) and data processing frameworks
• Production experience with container orchestration (Kubernetes), microservices architecture, and cloud-native technologies
• Demonstrated track record of building and operating large-scale distributed systems

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.

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.

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.

In the spirit of reconciliation, TikTok acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

• Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Engineering and Information Technology
• Industries: Software Development, Technology, Information and Internet, and Entertainment

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Sydney, New South Wales, Australia