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Staff Design Researcher

Twilio Remote - US Full-time Engineering Posted Jul 17, 2026
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Culture signals in this specific role

Inferred from the employer’s wording in this job description. These role-level signals are separate from the company-wide employee-review scores below.

OwnershipThe description emphasizes ownership or end-to-end responsibility.
Cross-functionalThe role explicitly involves collaboration across teams or functions.
Fast-pacedThe wording signals a fast-moving environment with changing priorities.
Deep technical workThe role highlights substantial technical, research, or systems work.
Remote or flexibleThe listing mentions remote, distributed, flexible, or hybrid work.

What it’s like to work at Twilio

Communications Platform · Remote-First

3.9
Employee Rating
4.1
Work-Life Balance
166
Open Roles
remotewlbeng-drivenopen-sourceequitylearning

What employees love

  • Genuine remote-first flexibility with excellent work-life balance
  • Strong compensation, benefits, and engineering-driven culture

What could be better

  • Frequent reorgs and leadership changes create uncertainty
  • Culture has shifted from creative builders to more corporate, profit-driven focus
View full Twilio culture profile →

About the Role

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.

We use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help make our hiring process efficient. That said, every hiring decision is made by real Twilions!

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See yourself at Twilio

Join us as a Staff Design Researcher on our Emerging Technology and Innovation (ETI) team.

About the job

We are seeking a visionary and entrepreneurial Design Researcher passionate about building the future, not just improving the present. In this role, you will lead Horizon 3 innovation—imagining, shaping, and validating breakthrough product concepts that could fundamentally transform the enterprise landscape over the next 3-5+ years.

As part of our team, your mandate is to look beyond current product lines and incremental enhancements. Your goal is to help imagine the future that will exist based on technological advances across AI/ ML, AGI, quantum computing, blockchain and more. Working side-by-side with world-class researchers, engineers, and product managers, you will take bold, unproven ideas from whiteboard to working prototype—navigating ambiguity, systematically de-risking concepts, and driving structured experimentation.

You will help us reimagine future experiences for our customers. Your success will be measured by your ability to identify and validate opportunities that can shape the next era of growth for Twilio—and the broader technology ecosystem.

Responsibilities

In this role, you’ll:

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:

Desired:

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

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.

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. Please note that hiring for this role is not restricted to the locations listed above.

The estimated pay ranges for this role are as follows:

The successful candidate’s starting salary will be determined based on permissible, non-discriminatory factors such as skills, experience, and geographic 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.

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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the work-life balance like at Twilio?
Twilio has a work-life balance score of 4.1/5 based on employee reviews. This is above average, suggesting the company genuinely respects work-life boundaries.
What is Twilio’s culture like?
Twilio is characterized by these culture values: remote, wlb, eng-driven, open-source, equity, learning. Based on employee reviews, the company has an overall rating of 3.9/5. Genuine remote-first flexibility with excellent work-life balance
How many open roles does Twilio have?
Twilio currently has 166 open roles across departments including engineering, product, sales, and more. Roles are refreshed daily from their careers page.
Is this role remote-friendly?
This role is located in Remote - US. Twilio is a remote-friendly company, with many roles available for remote work.
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