Principal, Machine Learning Engineer (L5)

See yourself at Twilio

Join the team as Twilio’s next Principal, Machine Learning Engineer on Twilio's Customer and Developer Experience Platform Team.

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 will be leading the development of AI and ML solutions tailored for Twilio’s next gen communications platform. Leading technical initiatives that leverage AI/ML to enhance real-time communications, improve user experiences, and drive innovation in our product suite for Twilio's Customer and Developer Experience Platform (CDXP) organization.

As a Principal Machine Learning Engineer in the CDXP organization, you will be responsible for experimenting with proof of concepts, and building AI models to power Twilio’s communications platform used by thousands of customers worldwide. 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:

• Architect and lead the development of cutting-edge AI/ML systems for communication platforms, including natural language processing (NLP), and real-time decision-making models.
• Collaborate with leadership to align AI/ML initiatives with the company’s strategic goals, ensuring impactful integration across product lines.
• Design and implement scalable, robust ML models to support real-time, low-latency communication systems.
• Explore and innovate around AI-driven personalization, recommendation systems, and predictive analytics to enhance user engagement.
• Provide thought leadership in AI/ML technology, evaluating emerging trends and their applicability to communication challenges.
• Ensure adherence to best practices for data security, privacy, and ethical AI, especially in handling sensitive communication data.

Qualifications 

Not all applicants will have skills that match a job description exactly. Twilio values diverse experiences in other industries, and we encourage everyone who meets the required qualifications to apply. While having “desired” qualifications make for a strong candidate, we encourage applicants with alternative experiences to also 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 as an engineer writing production-grade code in a modern programming language
• 3+ years of experience in developing AI/ML systems.
• Proven experience building, evaluating and deploying large-scale AI/ML solutions for customer driven products or similar high-performance environments.
• Expertise in NLP and conversational AI systems.
• Experience in various ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Llama Index, Langchain) and real-time data processing platforms (e.g., Kafka, or similar).
• Proficiency in Python or similar programming languages
• Solid understanding of distributed computing and low-latency systems.
• Exceptional collaboration skills, and cross function and organization partnering.
• 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:

• Experience with multimodal ML models combining text, audio, and data.
• Background in integrating AI/ML capabilities into messaging/communications systems.
• Experience building a product from idea to product market fit.
• 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 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 Colorado, California, New York,Washington and Washington D.C. 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 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 January 20,2025 but may change based on business needs. 

Twilio is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Twilio is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action 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 is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at accommodation@twilio.com.