Senior/Staff Applied Research Software Engineer

Twilio provides the communications APIs that a large share of the internet uses for messaging, voice and verification. This role sits on its incubation team, which prototypes and builds what Twilio might offer next. It is a full stack engineering job aimed at rapid prototyping: developing, testing and deploying code for prototypes and new product features, experimenting with modern frameworks and emerging technology including AI and machine learning, and taking promising ideas toward production ready solutions. Twilio is unusually clear that it is hiring at two levels for this one posting, Senior and Staff, so the entry bar is the Senior bar rather than the Staff one. It is fully remote within India, which is what several readers said they need most, and Twilio describes itself as remote first rather than remote tolerated.

What the posting asks for: Twilio states it is hiring for multiple positions at either a Senior or a Staff level under this one listing. The Senior level asks for 3 or more years of professional software development experience, ideally full stack. The Staff level asks for 5 or more years of professional full stack software development experience. Apply against the level that matches you rather than assuming the higher bar applies.

The real day to day differs by level, and Twilio spells both out. At the Senior level: developing, testing and deploying code for prototypes and new product features, working with the team to solve technical problems and improve solution design, taking part in code reviews, documentation and knowledge sharing, experimenting with modern tools, frameworks and emerging technology, and adapting to changing requirements while contributing to process improvement. Twilio calls this a growth role, suited to someone eager to learn in a fast paced and entrepreneurial environment. At the Staff level: designing, developing and implementing prototypes and production ready solutions, experimenting with AI, machine learning and emerging technology alongside the team, contributing to engineering best practice through code review, communicating progress and technical concepts to stakeholders, and adapting quickly to feedback and changing requirements.

Location and setup: remote within India. Twilio describes a dedication to remote first work and a culture of global connection, and this is genuinely a distributed role rather than a hybrid one.

Two things worth knowing before you apply. Twilio states openly that it uses AI to help make its hiring process efficient, while adding that every hiring decision is made by a person. And Twilio's remote India postings have historically been restricted to a subset of Indian states, so confirm your state is eligible with the recruiter rather than assuming all of India qualifies.

Honest fit guidance: incubation work means ambiguity, short cycles and a real chance that something you build does not ship, which suits some engineers and frustrates others. The compensating benefit is breadth and exposure to new technology early. Twilio also has a Staff Business Intelligence Engineer role open remotely today at 7 or more years, which is a different team on the data side.