HR Business Partner – R&D (San Jose)

About the role

We are looking for an experienced HR Business Partner to join TikTok’s Research & Development organization in San Jose. The role will support engineering, security, privacy and trust teams, acting as a strategic advisor and trusted partner across a global, multi‑time‑zone department.

Key responsibilities

• Partner with leadership to design and execute HR strategies aligned with engineering, security and privacy roadmaps.
• Serve as the primary HRBP for a global department, handling end‑to‑end generalist and business partner duties across multiple time zones.
• Provide strategic coaching on organizational design to help teams adapt to regulatory pressures and security initiatives.
• Advise on talent assessment, career pathing and succession planning for specialized roles in Engineering, Privacy, Security and Trust & Safety.
• Lead proactive resolution of complex employee‑relations issues worldwide, mitigating risk while fostering innovation and psychological safety.
• Oversee full‑cycle performance management, tailoring goal‑setting and calibration for technical and operational outcomes.
• Use people data and analytics to deliver insights on team health, retention bottlenecks and scaling challenges.
• Collaborate with global HR peers and Centers of Excellence to create customized compensation, engagement and talent acquisition solutions.

Required profile

• Minimum 4 years of HR experience, including at least 2 years as an HR Business Partner.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Mandarin to work with stakeholders in Mainland China and the broader APAC region.
• Proven ability to build trust with technical leaders and to navigate complex, ambiguous environments.
• Strong judgment in employee‑relations matters and a commitment to upholding HR principles.

Required skills