Scrolling through TikTok can feel like stepping into another world. One minute you’re watching a ‘day in my life at uni’ vlog, the next you’re deep in booktok, cave diver memes, or emotionally invested in a stranger’s trip to Bunnings. Somehow, you’re also learning to fold a fitted sheet perfectly or discovering life hacks.
The social media app’s addictive and personalised algorithm is designed to keep you watching, with everything from storytime to viral dances.
But have you ever wondered what it’s like to be behind the scenes of the platform that knows you so well?
Main character moment
Meet Ethan, a Bachelor of Software Engineering student at The Australian National University (ANU), who recently spent a summer as a Mobile Engineer intern at TikTok in Sydney.
“Our world is incredibly reliant on technology, and we’re constantly finding more creative ways to use it. That means there’s always a need for more software engineers,” he says.
“New technologies are popping up every day and we’re always learning from one another, which is so important so we don’t get stuck in our own bubble.”
Ethan’s always been drawn to where tech meets creativity. With a background in animation and a love for hands-on projects and building things, an internship with TikTok seemed like a fantastic opportunity to challenge himself.
“A lot of people use TikTok, and for good reason,” says Ethan.
“It’s a great platform for creativity. I’ve always admired its influence and the kind of creative content it inspires. The idea of joining the team behind that was incredibly exciting.”
Always Day 1
A common motto at TikTok is ‘Always Day 1’ – a reminder to stay curious, humble, and open-minded. It’s a philosophy that set the tone for Ethan’s internship right from the start.
“No matter how much you learn, there’s always more to discover.”
Joining the Android team, Ethan worked on features for the live streaming side of the app. His day-to-day involved coding, reviewing code, debugging, writing documentation and even sketching out technical diagrams.
“I worked on a fun AI project to help improve the team’s developer experience, and I also contributed directly to the app by looking for ways to optimise features and writing unit tests,” he says.
At first, the size and complexity of TikTok’s codebase felt overwhelming. But Ethan quickly found strategies to manage it.
“Being methodical – breaking things down one step at a time, mapping everything out, and not being afraid to slow down – made me feel much more confident working with large, complex systems,” he says.
“My internship showed me just how much effort goes into building and maintaining such a massive app with a huge codebase. TikTok has a strong engineering-first culture where software engineers are trusted with a lot of responsibility. Sometimes even a small feature or tweak can have a huge impact on the user experience, which is really cool to see up close with real data.”
“I’m really proud to have worked on things that made it into a live app that millions of people use.”
The experience wasn’t all pull requests and bug fixes either. One of the unexpected highlights was how social it was; with daily lunches with fellow interns, walks with harbour views, and team outings like hyper racing.
From classroom to creator hub
Ethan’s journey to TikTok started in Orange, a regional town in New South Wales. Moving to Canberra for university was a big step, but one that helped shape his path.
“My time at ANU has been a really good experience. It isn’t always easy, but the challenges are great for learning. Plus I’ve met so many supportive people along the way, which made it even better,” says Ethan.
“Canberra is a great uni town,” he says. “ANU is right near the city, the campus is beautiful, and there’s always somewhere new to walk around and explore.”
At ANU, he discovered a love for mobile development during a Software Construction course. Ethan’s team built an Android app from scratch – giving him the real-world skills he’d later use at TikTok.
He found a course in Algorithms challenging but valuable, sharpening his coding and problem-solving skills. He also worked on FireApp, an AI-driven mobile app designed to help coordinate volunteers during bushfires, which showed how tech can help people.
Through the ANU TechLauncher program, Ethan worked with real clients and startups across multiple semesters, building software that had impact beyond the classroom.
“TechLauncher taught me a lot about managing real-world projects and working with people who had different perspectives. I was lucky to have some really supportive teammates too. I’ve made lifelong friends through those experiences.”
Outside of class, Ethan has also stepping into a mentoring role, teaching students creative coding in the Sound and Music Computing course.
“I enjoy mentoring. Being able to give back to the uni community and seeing students get excited about what they’re learning is really satisfying.”
“I liked that the ANU software engineering degree gives you a systems engineering perspective too. You don’t just learn how to code – you also get to see how bigger systems fit together. Understanding that bigger picture is really important.”
All these hands-on projects at university helped Ethan stand out during interviews and gave him a strong foundation once he joined the team at TikTok.
“My time at ANU felt like learning on the job. I became a lot more confident with problem solving, presenting and communicating with clients. Those experiences gave me good examples to bring up in interviews and put on my resume.”
New chapter loading For You
Ethan’s time at TikTok may be over, but it’s opened new doors and helped him grow in confidence as he wraps up his final semester of study at ANU.
“It’s been great bringing back the skills I learned in my internship and applying them as I finish my degree. I’m definitely excited to graduate; although I know I’ll miss uni!” Working at a global tech company has taught Ethan to back himself and take pride in his progress.
“Part of growing as an engineer is recognising and celebrating your wins, even the small ones. That confidence doesn’t come overnight, but little by little, it makes a huge difference. It made my internship experience even more rewarding.”
His advice for future interns?
“Don’t underestimate yourself. Apply or try something even if you think you’re underqualified. You might be surprised by how much you can achieve if you just give it a shot. Worst case, you get some really good practice for next time.”
If Ethan had to title his internship like a movie? “The Intern Who Kept Pressing ‘Build’ Until It Worked.” Soundtrack: “TiK ToK” by Kesha, of course.
Feeling inspired? If Ethan’s story has you dreaming of your own adventure, learn more about ANU engineering internship opportunities to find your next learning experience beyond the classroom.