Principal, Machine Learning Engineer (L5)

Twilio Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 36,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-first

Healthcare

Generous time off

Volunteer time

Job summary

Twilio is seeking a Principal Machine Learning Engineer in its Customer Memory Team. You will build foundational AI/ML capabilities powering personalized engagement, bridging research and production-grade software.

You will lead rapid research cycles tackling contextual intelligence and large-scale ML problems, ensuring seamless customer interactions. We value a builder mindset, strong collaboration, and ability to mentor peers.

Qualifications

• 10+ years applied ML/AI experience with ownership of end-to-end systems.
• Proficiency in Python; cloud-based services with high-volume data and real-time inference.
• Deep expertise in production-grade ML/AI systems, including LLM orchestration, embeddings, and vector stores.

Responsibilities

• Build new functionality in a fast-moving product with rapid adoption.
• Design rigorous experiments for nebulous ideas and execute in weeks.
• Conduct deep-dives into state-of-the-art LLM orchestration and data-driven personalization.
• Build ML systems that scale at large throughput.
• Rapidly acquire new technical skills in a high-delivery environment.
• Leverage latest AI stacks to minimize boilerplate and accelerate core differentiation.

Skills

Applied ML/AI

Python

Cloud platforms

LLM orchestration

Vector stores

Experiment design

Production ML systems

Mentorship/ design review

Communication

Ambiguity handling

Tools

AWS

GCP

Azure

LLM frameworks

Job description

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.

Hiring and how we work

We use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help make our hiring process efficient. That said, every hiring decision is made by real Twilions! Also, while we are a remote-first company, you may be asked to report in person on an ad-hoc basis for team gatherings, functional off-sites or customer meetings.

See yourself at Twilio

Join the team as our next Principal Machine Learning Engineer in Twilio’s Customer Memory Team.

About the job

In this role, you will build the foundational AI/ML capabilities that power intelligent engagement experiences for Twilio customers - letting any application, human or AI agent, or channel know who a customer is, what they have done, and how best to reach them. This role requires a builder and curious mindset, someone who can bridge the gap across theoretical research, production-grade experimentation and enterprise quality software. You will lead rapid research cycles to solve complex problems regarding contextual intelligence and large scale ML problems ensuring every interaction feels seamless and personalized.

Responsibilities

• Build out new functionality within a fast moving product seeing rapid adoption.


• Take a nebulous idea, design a rigorous experiment, and execute it within weeks.


• Conduct deep-dive research into state-of-the-art LLM orchestration, retrieval strategies, and data-driven personalization.


• Build ML systems that hold up at Twilio scale.


• Rapidly acquire new technical skills and knowledge in a fast-paced, high-delivery environment.


• Proactively leverage and integrate the latest AI development stacks to bypass boilerplate engineering and focus on core differentiation.

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: 10+ years applied ML/AI experience with a track record of owning technically ambitious systems end to end rather than contributing to someone else’s design. Comfort operating in a 0-to-1 setting with ambiguous requirements and a strong bias for action. Proficiency in Python programming language. Experience building cloud-based services on AWS, GCP, or Azure, with high-volume data, streaming or real-time inference paths, and a range of data stores. Deep expertise in the design, architecture, and deployment of production-grade ML/AI systems, including LLM orchestration, embedding models, and vector stores. Strong fundamentals of statistical machine learning algorithms, transformer models, LLMs Ability to raise the technical bar of a team through mentorship, design review, and standards, without formal management authority. Experience in building cloud-based services using AWS, GCP, or Azure. Strong communication skills and highly effective collaborator who works well with teammates.


• Desired: Prior experience building autonomous agents that handle multi-turn conversations and maintain long-term context/consistency. Strong background in predictive modeling on user behavior, including experiment design and the causal or counterfactual methods needed when randomization is partial. Prior experience working in a globally distributed team.

Location

This role will be remote, and based in India - Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana State, Maharashtra and New Delhi.

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. 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, please consider other open positions.

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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 i