Principal Machine Learning Applied Researcher (L5)

See yourself at Twilio

Join the team as our next Principal Machine Learning Researcher on Twilio’s Emerging Technology & Innovation organization.

About the job

This position is needed to lead horizon 3 research projects which are looking to understand and in some cases predict the future that will exist based on technological advances across AI/ ML, AGI, quantum computing, blockchain and more. You will lead and conduct original research in these domains, focusing on solving complex business challenges and discovering new opportunities.

Twilio's ETI organization is focused on exploring the future of customer engagement through research and experimentation. We dream big, are customer obsessed, and iterative in our discovery approach.

As a Principal Applied Researcher, you will be responsible for leading research projects, experimenting with proof of concepts, and staying on the cutting edge of “what if”. There are many exciting challenges ahead of us and we are looking for a researcher who is comfortable with ambiguity, has a proven track record for delivering results, and has experience with the emerging technologies of AI, LLMs, and a passion for keeping up with their latest developments.

Responsibilities

In this role, you’ll:

• Help define what the future looks like based on technological trends, draw implications for opportunities and challenges for Twilio based on that future
• Analyze the latest AI/ML trends, techniques, and literature; summarize and translate findings into actionable recommendations for stakeholders across engineering, product, and business teams
• Where relevant, evaluate, design, and prototype novel algorithms, models, and architectures for real-world applications (e.g., NLP, computer vision, recommender systems, generative models, etc.)
• Where relevant, deconstruct existing software/ tools, to better understand source of distinction from a technical standpoint
• Benchmark solutions against state-of-the-art approaches, leveraging appropriate datasets, metrics, and evaluation methodologies
• Author and present clear, comprehensive technical reports, publications, and presentations for both technical and business audiences.
• Mentor and guide junior researchers and data scientists; foster a culture of technical excellence, curiosity, and rapid learning
• .

Qualifications

Twilio values diverse experiences from all kinds of industries, and we encourage everyone who meets the required qualifications to apply. If your career is just starting or hasn't followed a traditional path, don't let that stop you from considering Twilio. We are always looking for people who will bring something new to the table!

Required:

• Master’s or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in applied machine learning, deep learning, or artificial intelligence research
• Strong publication record or evidence of thought leadership in AI/ML (conferences, journals, patents, open-source contributions)
• Proven experience with major ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn) and programming languages such as Python, Java, or C++
• Deep understanding of AI/ML theory, model evaluation, RAG, and best practices for scalable implementations
• Exceptional conceptual and analytical problem solving skills
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to synthesize complex findings for diverse stakeholders
• .

Desired:

• Expertise in one or more specialization areas: natural language processing, computer vision, reinforcement learning, generative AI, scalable distributed systems, or related fields.
• Experience deploying machine learning models into production at scale.
• Demonstrated leadership on cross-functional research projects across product, engineering, design
• Familiarity with cloud-based ML infrastructure (e.g., AWS SageMaker, Google Cloud AI, Azure ML).
• Strong business acumen; ability to align research initiatives with larger business goals and identify the business case behind technology investments
• Experience or expertise in communications platforms (CPaaS), real-time messaging, identity protocols, authentication, or security frameworks.
• Prior work on secure, scalable, or privacy-preserving AI systems is a strong plus
• Demonstrated ability to understand customer needs either e.g., successful product adoption

Location

This role will be remote, but is not eligible to be hired in San Francisco, CA, Oakland, CA, San Jose, CA, or the surrounding areas.

Travel

We prioritize connection and opportunities to build relationships with our customers and each other. For this role, you may be required to travel occasionally to participate in project or team in-person meetings.

What We Offer

There are many benefits to working at Twilio, including, in addition to competitive pay, things like generous time-off, ample parental and wellness leave, healthcare, a retirement savings program, and much more. Offerings vary by location.

Twilio thinks big. Do you?

We like to solve problems, take initiative, pitch in when needed, and are always up for trying new things. That's why we seek out colleagues who embody our values — something we call Twilio Magic. Additionally, we empower employees to build positive change in their communities by supporting their volunteering and donation efforts.

So, if you're ready to unleash your full potential, do your best work, and be the best version of yourself, apply now!

If this role isn't what you're looking for, please consider other open positions.

*Please note this role is open to candidates outside of California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Washington D.C., and Washington State. The information below is provided for candidates hired in those locations only.

The estimated pay ranges for this role are as follows:

• Based in Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Vermont or Washington D.C.:$200,000-$250,000.
• Based in New York, Washington State, or California (outside of the San Francisco Bay area): $215,000-$265,000.
• Based in the San Francisco Bay area, California: $230,000-$290,000.
• This role may be eligible to participate in Twilio’s equity plan and corporate bonus plan. All roles are eligible for the following benefits: health care insurance, 401(k) retirement account, paid sick time, paid personal time off, paid parental leave.

The successful candidate’s starting salary will be determined based on permissible, non-discriminatory factors such as skills, experience, and geographic location within the state.

Applications for this role are intended to be accepted until May 31tst, 2025 but may change based on business needs.