Research Machine Learning Engineer (L5)

See yourself at Twilio

 Join the team as our next Research Engineer (ML) on Twilio’s Emerging Technology & Innovation organization.

Who we are & why we’re hiring

Twilio powers real-time business communications and data solutions that help companies and developers worldwide build better applications and customer experiences.

Although we're headquartered in San Francisco, we have presence throughout South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. We're on a journey to becoming a global company that actively opposes racism and all forms of oppression and bias. At Twilio, we support diversity, equity & inclusion wherever we do business.

About the job

This position is needed to spearhead ML/AI focused research projects,  write about your findings, build prototypes, and explore emerging  technologies for Twilio's Emerging Technology & Innovation (ETI) organization.

Twilio's ETI organization is focused on exploring the future of customer engagement through research and experimentation. We dream big, but we also believe in rapidly prototyping our ideas to share with real customers for feedback and iteration. As an early member of this new organization, you will have the chance to influence the strategy and culture of our organization.

As a Principal Machine Learning Engineer of the ETI organization, 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 an engineer 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:

• Research new ML and AI technologies and tools
• Build prototypes to further your research and test your hypotheses.
• Imagine new futures based on novel technologies.
• Share your learnings frequently with your fellow researchers in order to enable collaboration.
• Collaborate with data scientists, engineers, and developers to integrate AI models and algorithms into existing systems and applications
• Collaborate closely with your product, design and go to market partners to ensure we are all rowing in the same direction.
• Rapidly acquire new technical skills and knowledge in a fast-paced, high-delivery environment. There will be a steep learning curve to this job, you should be comfortable diving in the deep end and creating clarity for yourself.
• Influence steering committee discussions on leveraging AI across the whole of Twilio.
• Most importantly, Experiment! As our new team grows, you should embody the practice of testing out new ideas and iterating based on feedback. Not only in the products you deliver, but in the way we conduct ML/AL research at Twilio.

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:

• 7+ years hands on experience writing code in a modern programming language (language agnostic)
• 3+ years of research experience in a professional or academic setting where building your idea and testing it was a must.
• Experience evaluating the performance of different ML models/versions and making enhancements
• Experience working collaboratively with ML engineers, data scientists or ML Researchers
• Experience building an ML model and improving it. 
• Passion for emerging technologies and staying up to date on their latest developments 
• Proven track record of shipping products to production, testing ideas early with customers and iterating rapidly on their feedback.
• Exceptional collaboration skills, the key to our success is going to be tied to our ability to partner with other parts of the organization and help them be successful.
• Strong customer focus, our feedback loop with customers will be very tight!
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.  Our ideas will only be as good as our ability to share them.

Desired:

• You have previously shared your ideas in public forums through blog posts, meetup presentations, or speaking at conferences.
• Experience building a product from idea to product market fit (zero to one).
• Experience leading the development of products or features which leverage LLMs
• Builder at heart.  Through a hobby or your profession, you are passionate about being hands on and seeing your work come to life

Location

This role will be remote, but is not eligible to be hired in CT, NJ, NY, WA, PA or the surrounding areas of San Francisco, CA, Oakland, CA, or San Jose, CA

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 March 30th, 2025 but may change based on business needs.