Staff Design Researcher

Twilio

Who we are  At Twilio, we’re shaping the future of communications, all from the comfort of our homes. We deliver innovative solutions to hundreds of thousands of businesses and empower millions of developers worldwide to craft personalized customer experiences. Our dedication to remote-first work, and strong culture of connection and global inclusion means that no matter your location, you’re part of a vibrant team with diverse experiences making a global impact each day. As we continue to revolutionize how the world interacts, we’re acquiring new skills and experiences that make work feel truly rewarding. Your career at Twilio is in your hands. We use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help make our hiring process efficient. That said, every hiring decision is made by real Twilions! . See yourself at Twilio Join the team as Twilio's next Senior or Staff Applied Software Research Engineer for Emerging Technologies. We are hiring for multiple positions at either a Senior or Staff level.  Who we are At Twilio, we're shaping the future of communications, all from the comfort of our homes. We deliver innovative solutions to hundreds of thousands of businesses and empower millions of developers worldwide to craft personalized customer experiences. Our dedication to remote-first work, and strong culture of connection and global inclusion means that no matter your location, you're part of a vibrant team with diverse experiences making a global impact each day. As we continue to revolutionize how the world interacts, we're acquiring new skills and experiences that make work feel truly rewarding. Your career at Twilio is in your hands. Welcome to Twilio Forward, the incubation lab where we push boundaries, unlock next-era growth, and turn the once-unimagined into reality. As part of our Emerging Tech team, you will pioneer Horizon-3 initiatives that fundamentally redefine how humanity interacts with artificial intelligence. From launching Ola, the world’s first agent-native communication channel, to engineering the ground-breaking Agent-to-Human (A2H) protocol, we are actively building the control room for the autonomous future. If you are a builder driven to disrupt the status quo, reimagine what’s possible, and engineer what comes next, your journey starts here. About the job This full-stack engineer position is needed to contribute hands-on technical expertise, collaborate on rapid prototyping, and develop innovative solutions as part of Twilio’s incubation team.  As a Senior Applied Software Research Engineer, you’ll build hands-on skills with new technologies, collaborate with passionate engineers, and contribute to delivering solutions that help shape Twilio’s future offerings. This is a growth role, ideal for someone eager to learn and make a measurable difference in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. As a Staff Applied Software Research Engineer, you’ll work closely with cross-functional partners to design and build new product ideas, leveraging modern technologies and your problem-solving abilities. This is a high-impact opportunity for growth and learning, helping Twilio experiment and stay ahead in the evolving tech landscape. Responsibilities In this role, At the Senior level, you’ll: * Develop, test, and deploy code for prototypes and new product features. * Collaborate with team members to solve technical challenges and improve solution design. * Participate in code reviews, documentation, and team knowledge sharing. * Experiment with modern tools, frameworks, and emerging technologies. * Adapt to evolving requirements and provide input on process improvements. In this role, At the Staff level, you’ll: * Design, develop, and implement prototypes and production-ready solutions. * Collaborate with team members to experiment with AI, machine learning, and emerging technologies. * Participate in code reviews and contribute to continuous improvement of engineering best practices. * Communicate progress and technical concepts to stakeholders and peers. * Adapt quickly to feedback and changing requirements in a fast-paced environment. 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: At the Senior level: * Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience. * 3+ years of professional software development experience, ideally full stack development. * Proficiency in at least one programming language (such as JavaScript, Python, or Java). * Experience working with front-end (React, Angular) and/or back-end (Node.js, Springboot) technologies. * Understanding of database fundamentals (SQL or NoSQL). * Eagerness to learn, collaborate, and solve problems. * Effective written and verbal communication skills. * Have an agentic coding operating model that is effective at leveraging skills/ MCP/ LLMs to be able to do ai-assisted coding * Ability to deal with ambiguity and solve the problems vs. need constant support to unblock execution At the Staff level: * Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience. * 5+ years of professional full stack software development experience. * Proficiency across modern programming languages such as JavaScript, Python, or Java. * Experience building applications using front-end (React, Angular) and/or back-end (Node.js, Springboot) frameworks. * Solid understanding of database technologies (SQL or NoSQL). * Strong problem-solving skills and a collaborative mindset. * Effective communication skills for technical discussions. * Next-Gen Workflow: Mastery of an agentic coding operating model; highly effective at leveraging advanced dev tools, Model Context Protocol (MCP), and LLMs to drastically accelerate AI-assisted development. * Ability to deal with ambiguity and solve the problems vs. need constant support to unblock execution Desired: At the Senior & Staff level: * Exposure to AI or machine learning principles or projects. * Knowledge of cloud-based platforms (AWS, Azure) and distributed systems. * Ability to ramp up on new technologies, solution against well defined problems and to be iterative about building. * Passion for innovation and exploring emerging technologies. * Experience working in remote or globally distributed teams. * Contributions to open source or tech community projects. Location   All Senior and Staff roles will be remote and based in the United States.   Travel  We prioritize connection and opportunities to build relationships with our customers and each other. For this role, approximately 5% travel is anticipated to help you connect in-person in a meaningful way.    What We Offer Working at Twilio offers many benefits, including competitive pay, generous time off, ample parental and wellness leave, healthcare, a retirement savings program, and much more. Offerings vary by location.   Compensation *Please note the salary range information provided applies only to candidates residing in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Washington D.C., and Washington State due to local requirements. Compensation for candidates in other locations will be discussed during the hiring process. Please note that hiring for this role is not restricted to the locations listed above. The estimated pay ranges for this role are as follows: * Based in Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Vermont or Washington D.C. : $141,520.00 - $213,900.00. * Based in New York, New Jersey, Washington State, or California (outside of the San Francisco Bay area): $149,840.00 - $226,500.00. * Based in the San Francisco Bay area, California: $166,400.00 - $251.600.00. * This role may be eligible to participate in Twilio’s equity plan and corporate bonus plan. All roles are generally 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.   Application deadline information    Applications for this role will be accepted on an ongoing basis. 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. Twilio is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Additionally, Twilio participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law.

Twilio

Who we are  At Twilio, we’re shaping the future of communications, all from the comfort of our homes. We deliver innovative solutions to hundreds of thousands of businesses and empower millions of developers worldwide to craft personalized customer experiences. Our dedication to remote-first work, and strong culture of connection and global inclusion means that no matter your location, you’re part of a vibrant team with diverse experiences making a global impact each day. As we continue to revolutionize how the world interacts, we’re acquiring new skills and experiences that make work feel truly rewarding. Your career at Twilio is in your hands. We use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help make our hiring process efficient. That said, every hiring decision is made by real Twilions! . See yourself at Twilio Join the team as Twilio’s next Senior Principal, Technical Program Management within Research & Development (R&D).  About the job Twilio is the world’s leading customer engagement platform empowering developers to build modern communication applications and experiences designed to be trusted, simple and smart. Twilio is looking for a Senior Principal Technical Program Manager to help direct a portfolio of strategic, complex, and multidisciplinary programs that significantly accelerate R&D's business impact. You'll set program strategy and lead program teams to successfully deliver business, operational, and technical improvements across Engineering & Product organizations.  As a trusted strategic advisor, you will play a critical role in driving alignment, setting priorities, and delivering high-impact programs that advance strategic initiatives. The Senior Principal, Technical Program Management is highly visible and requires a strong balance of strategic insight, execution excellence, and cross-functional leadership. You will navigate seamlessly between big-picture planning and hands-on delivery to ensure key initiatives move forward in a dynamic, scaled agile environment. You'll also be expected to adapt your program portfolio proactively in response to evolving business needs and organizational complexity. Your expertise in your domain areas is regarded as expert level and authoritative, both within R&D and across the company. Responsibilities In this role, you’ll: * Orchestrate the technical strategy and multi-year roadmap for high-impact, cross-organizational technical programs  that define the future of Twilio’s platforms. You manage systemic complexity and high-stakes risk while serving as the primary technical point of contact for SVPs and executive leadership on mission-critical programs. * Architect the end-to-end execution framework, including global sequencing logic, multi-tier governance, architectural integration patterns, and enterprise-grade operational success metrics. You ensure the strategy accounts for technical debt retirement and long-term platform health, moving beyond a project plan to build a sustainable delivery engine. * Orchestrate Cross-Portfolio Alignment: Own the master execution roadmap for complex, interdependent product suites. You identify and resolve structural misalignment between engineering roadmaps, surfacing high-stakes tradeoffs and resource reallocations to executive leadership. * Partner deeply with lead engineers/architects to evaluate technical approaches, integration patterns, and operational risks; ensure plans reflect real system constraints, failure modes, and readiness requirements. * Define Systems of Accountability: Establish the organizational "operating system" for high-stakes programs. Beyond RACI, you define the standards for how cross-functional teams interact, ensuring clear ownership across siloed domains when technical priorities conflict. * Anticipate Ecosystem-Wide Impacts: Proactively identify "hidden" technical requirements across the platform (e.g., global security / compliance shifts, complex billing migrations, or observability gaps) and ensure they are integrated into the core technical design, not treated as afterthoughts * Scale R&D Excellence: Design and institutionalize durable program frameworks and technical readiness standards that elevate the execution maturity of the entire global R&D organization. You build the playbooks that become the Twilio standard for large-scale engineering delivery. * Force Multiplier & Mentor: Mentor to Principal TPMs and Engineering Leads. You raise the collective bar for technical risk management, executive storytelling, and high-velocity decision-making. 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:  * Experience: 12+ years of experience leading massive-scale technical programs in a high-growth, distributed systems and software engineering domain. * Strategic Technical Leadership: Proven ability to influence technical direction and architectural decisions at the VP/SVP level, with a track record of steering programs through complex technical pivots. * Systemic Execution Expertise: Expert-level mastery in defining execution strategies for programs with hundreds of engineers; you have a "spidey sense" for identifying integration risks and failure modes before they manifest. * Executive Influence: Exceptional ability to frame highly technical challenges into strategic business narratives, driving consensus among senior executives with competing priorities. * Architectural Fluency: Deep technical depth in cloud-scale infrastructure, API-first design, and distributed systems. Proven experience influencing Staff/Principal/Distinguished Engineers and challenging assumptions when necessary. * Operational Rigor: Demonstrated success in building and scaling operational readiness frameworks using self-service tools to surface status, actions, and KPIs across a multi-thousand-person R&D organization. * Mastery of Ambiguity: A proven track record of bringing order to chaos, creating high-functioning execution structures in environments where specifications, technologies, and market demands are in constant flux. * Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, a related field or equivalent practical experience. Desired: * Master’s in computer science or engineering or a related field  * 5+ years of technical program management at hyperscaler or Fortune 100 cloud software/infrastructure companies. * Domain expertise in global-scale communications (Telephony, SMS, CPaaS) or high-throughput distributed platforms. * Experience leading "company-bet" transformations, such as major cloud migrations or foundational platform re-architectures. Location This role will be remote and based in the United States. What We Offer Working at Twilio offers many benefits, including competitive pay, generous time off, ample parental and wellness leave, healthcare, a retirement savings program, and much more. Offerings vary by location. Compensation *Please note the salary range information provided applies only to candidates residing in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Washington D.C., and Washington State due to local requirements. Compensation for candidates in other locations will be discussed during the hiring process. Please note that hiring for this role is not restricted to the locations listed above. The estimated pay ranges for this role are as follows: * Based in Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Vermont or Washington D.C. : $188,240.00 - $235,00.00 * Based in New York, New Jersey, Washington State, or California (outside of the San Francisco Bay area): $199,280.00 - $249,100.00 * Based in the San Francisco Bay area, California: $221,360.00 - $276,700.00 This role may be eligible to participate in Twilio’s equity plan and corporate bonus plan. All roles are generally 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. Application deadline information Applications for this role will be accepted on an ongoing basis. 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. Twilio is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Additionally, Twilio participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law.

Twilio

Who we are  At Twilio, we’re shaping the future of communications, all from the comfort of our homes. We deliver innovative solutions to hundreds of thousands of businesses and empower millions of developers worldwide to craft personalized customer experiences. Our dedication to remote-first work, and strong culture of connection and global inclusion means that no matter your location, you’re part of a vibrant team with diverse experiences making a global impact each day. As we continue to revolutionize how the world interacts, we’re acquiring new skills and experiences that make work feel truly rewarding. Your career at Twilio is in your hands. We use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help make our hiring process efficient. That said, every hiring decision is made by real Twilions! . See yourself at Twilio Join the team as Twilio’s next Staff Software Engineer. About the job The Compliance Experiences team sits at the heart of the Twilio platform, owning two critical domains: Phone Numbers and Compliance (KYC).   In 2026, "getting a phone number" is no longer a simple API call; it requires sophisticated orchestration across global phone number inventory, real-time identity verification, regulatory compliance, and operational tooling at massive scale.   Twilio’s KYC Platform, the gateway to accessing all of Twilio’s communication APIs, enables customers to securely provision and operate communication services globally while navigating complex, constantly evolving regulatory requirements. As a Staff Software Engineer (P4),  you will be a key technical leader for a platform that processes millions of requests.  You will build innovative solutions while working closely with Twilio partners to ensure alignment. You will lead the technical design and influence the strategic direction that shapes Twilio’s compliance footprint. You will collaborate with cross functional teams and stakeholders across Twilio who rely on your team's APIs, services, and tooling to operate efficiently.  You will embrace AI-driven development workflows, using LLMs and agentic tools to accelerate code generation, improve test coverage, and translate complex regulatory requirements into executable logic. Your mission is to turn ambitious designs into production-grade features. Responsibilities In this role, you’ll: * DRAW THE OWL: Lead the architecture and long-term technical roadmap, transitioning legacy systems into a modern, distributed microservices architecture that supports global scale. * ACCELERATE WITH AI: Lead by example in using AI coding assistants (GitHub Copilot, Anthropic Claude, or internal LLMs) to automate boilerplate, generate exhaustive test suites, and perform rapid prototyping. You will be measured on your ability to amplify your own output and the team's velocity through AI augmentation. * BE AN OWNER: Drive technical excellence across multiple teams, making critical architectural decisions that balance rapid feature innovation with world-class reliability and security. * WEAR THE CUSTOMER’S SHOES: Partner with Product Managers to translate complex global telecommunications regulations and customer needs into elegant, developer-first APIs and application workflows. * EMPOWER OTHERS: Mentor and uplift senior and staff engineers. Foster a culture of technical curiosity, ownership, and continuous learning. Teach the team how to move from "writing code" to "reviewing and orchestrating AI-generated logic" without sacrificing security or quality. * RUTHLESSLY PRIORITIZE: Identify and mitigate technical risks early, ranging from scalability bottlenecks to security vulnerabilities and lead the team through complex production incidents with a focus on long-term remediation. * WRITE IT DOWN: Communicate complex technical strategies to both executive leadership and engineering teams through high-quality design documents, RFCs, and presentations. 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: * 12+ years of experience designing and developing highly available, high scale, secure, mission-critical cloud native enterprise distributed systems. * Expert Proficiency in Java or Go, with deep knowledge of AWS ecosystems (Lambda, EKS, DynamoDB, Kafka). * Architectural Mastery: Deep experience with cloud-native infrastructure (AWS preferred), microservices patterns, and designing "five-nines" (99.999%) resilient systems. * AI-Native Workflow: Demonstrated experience using AI tools to significantly accelerate software delivery. You should be comfortable discussing how you use LLMs for architectural brainstorming, debugging, and code synthesis. * API Excellence: A track record of building and maintaining high-volume public-facing APIs that focus on exceptional developer experience. * Data Savvy: Experience with high-throughput data processing and storage solutions (SQL/NoSQL, Redis, Kafka, or Spark). * Infrastructure as Code: Proficiency with Kubernetes, Terraform, and modern CI/CD paradigms. * Leadership: Proven ability to influence technical strategy across multiple teams and organizational boundaries without direct authority. Desired: * Telecom Domain Expertise: Experience with telephony protocols, local number porting (LNP), or global regulatory compliance frameworks. * Platform Thinking: Experience building "internal platforms" that enable other developer teams to move faster. * Agentic Systems: Experience building or integrating AI agents into internal developer platforms or automated ops workflows.   Location 1. This role will be remote and based in the West Coast, USA including San Francisco Bay Area 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 Working at Twilio offers many benefits, including competitive pay, generous time off, ample parental and wellness leave, healthcare, a retirement savings program, and much more. Offerings vary by location. Compensation: 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. : $171,120.00 - $213,900.00. * Based in New York, New Jersey, Washington State, or California (outside of the San Francisco Bay area): $181,200.00 - $226,500.00. * Based in the San Francisco Bay area, California: $201,280.00 - $251,600.00. * This role may be eligible to participate in Twilio’s equity plan and corporate bonus plan. All roles are generally 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.   Applications for this role are intended to be accepted until 30th Aug, 2026, but may change based on business needs.     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. Twilio is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Additionally, Twilio participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law.