Tech Lead, Applied Research - Emerging Tech

Role Description

This 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 Tech Lead, 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. You will be accountable for enabling rapid experimentation in partnership with the ETI tech lead.

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.

Responsibilities

• Architect & Deliver: Design, develop, and own the end-to-end implementation of high-stakes prototypes and robust, production-ready solutions.
• Spearhead AI R&D: Drive the technical direction and collaborate with cross-functional teams to experiment with, validate, and integrate AI, machine learning, and frontier technologies.
• Champion Engineering Excellence: Establish governance for code reviews and pioneer continuous improvements to engineering standards, mentoring peers to elevate overall code quality.
• Influence & Evangelize: Articulate complex technical concepts, architectural decisions, and project velocity clearly to executive stakeholders and engineering peers alike.
• Drive Agility: Navigate ambiguity and rapidly pivot technical strategies in response to shifting requirements, user feedback, and fast-paced market dynamics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of professional full-stack software development experience.
• Proficiency across modern programming languages such as JavaScript, Python, Java or Go with the ability to select the right tool for the job.
• Experience building applications using front-end (React, Angular) and/or back-end (Node.js, Springboot) frameworks.
• Data Architecture: Solid understanding of database technologies, including both SQL and NoSQL paradigms and when to select them.
• 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.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a collaborative mindset with effective communication skills for technical discussions.
• Extreme Autonomy: Exceptional ability to navigate intense ambiguity, self-unblock execution, and ruthlessly solve ambiguous problems without requiring constant structural support.
• Leadership & Collaboration: Strong communication and mentorship skills, with a collaborative mindset suited for high-bandwidth technical discussions.

Requirements

• Hands on exposure to LLM, AI, or machine learning principles or projects.
• Cloud Architecture: Deep knowledge of cloud-based platforms (AWS, Azure) and the design principles of 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

This role 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.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Generous time off
• Ample parental and wellness leave
• Healthcare
• Retirement savings program
• And much more

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.

The estimated pay ranges for this role are as follows:

• Based in Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Vermont or Washington D.C.: $227,840.00 - 284,800.00
• Based in New York, New Jersey, Washington State, or California (outside of the San Francisco Bay area): $241,200.00 - 301,500.00
• Based in the San Francisco Bay area, California: $268,000.00 - 335,000.00

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 until July 30, 2026.

Company Description

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.