Senior Applied Research, Twilio

• 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
• 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

Desirable

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

• Applications for this role are intended to be accepted until August 25, 2025 but may change based on business needs