To reach me: l.liang0316 [at] gmail [dot] com
I am a Software Engineer at TikTok, building distributed systems and the infrastructure that powers modern AI systems.
Previously, I received my Master's degree in Software Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. At CMU, I worked with Prof. Leonardo Sousa at the Distributed Systems Research Group, where my work focused on distributed systems, cloud-native infrastructure, and scalable software architecture.
My work has focused on distributed systems, with a growing emphasis on AI infrastructure and intelligent systems. Beyond work, I enjoy building open-source software and sharing what I learn through technical writing.
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Career Journey
Northeast Normal University
During my undergraduate studies at Northeast Normal University, I joined the Intelligent Information Processing Laboratory under the supervision of Prof. Junping Zhou, where I conducted research in graph algorithms and combinatorial optimization, with a focus on the Top-K Clique problem.
Beyond research, engineering projects and open-source contributions sparked my interest in software engineering, laying the foundation for my journey into distributed systems.
TikTok China
I began my career at TikTok China on the Global E-Commerce Fulfillment team, where I designed and built distributed backend systems that supported the rapid growth of one of the world’s largest e-commerce platforms as it scaled from approximately 56K to over 10 million daily orders.
As the platform grew, I led architectural improvements that supported faster product development. This work earned me an Exceed Expectations (E) rating and a fast-track promotion to Software Engineer II.
More importantly, it was where I developed my foundation in infrastructure engineering, learning how scalable distributed systems are designed, built, and operated in real production environments.
Carnegie Mellon University
At Carnegie Mellon University, I joined the Distributed Systems Research Group under the supervision of Prof. Leonardo Sousa, where I explored the principles behind reliable and scalable distributed systems through both research and engineering.
This research experience strengthened my theoretical foundation in distributed systems while shaping a more systematic approach to infrastructure engineering, complementing the practical experience I had gained in industry.
TikTok US
I am currently a Software Engineer at TikTok US, building distributed backend systems and platform infrastructure.
As we build the next generation of AI-powered products, we are exploring runtime infrastructure for long-running, stateful AI workflows, including durable execution, production observability, and continuous evaluation.
Professional Experience
TikTok · Seattle, WA
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Software Engineer II · 02/2026 – Present
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Software Engineer Intern · 05/2025 – 08/2025
TikTok · Shenzhen, China
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Software Engineer II · 01/2023 – 10/2023
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Software Engineer · 07/2021 – 12/2022
Research
Distributed Systems Research Group, Carnegie Mellon University [01/2025 – 12/2025]
Supervised by Prof. Leonardo Sousa
My research explored the architectural foundations of reliable cloud-native distributed systems. I studied how long-running microservice workflows can maintain consistency and recover gracefully from failures without sacrificing scalability.
The work centered on distributed transaction processing, reliable messaging, and Kubernetes-native orchestration, drawing on techniques such as the SAGA pattern, Change Data Capture (CDC), and event-driven workflow coordination.
Education Background
Carnegie Mellon University, Mountain View, CA [08/2024 - 12/2025]
Master’s degree, M.S. in Software Engineering
Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China [09/2017 - 06/2021]
Bachelor’s degree, B.Eng. in Software Engineering
Awards and Honors
- Exceed Expectations (E) Performance Rating and Promoted, TikTok, 2023
- Global E-Commerce Spot Bonus Award, TikTok, 2022
- President’s Scholarship, Northeast Normal University, 2020
- Innovation Star Award, Northeast Normal University, 2020
Last updated: July 2026