Principal Software Engineer

Role details

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 Twilio's next Principal Software Engineer on our Data Substrate team. Who we are & why we’re hiring Twilio powers real-time business communications and data solutions that help companies and developers worldwide build better applications and customer experiences. Although we're headquartered in San Francisco, we have presence throughout South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. We're on a journey to becoming a global company that actively opposes racism and all forms of oppression and bias. At Twilio, we support diversity, equity & inclusion wherever we do business. About the job We are seeking an experienced and visionary Principal Engineer to join our team and lead the design and development of our Data Platform. In this role, you will be responsible for architecting scalable and reliable data solutions, driving technical innovation, and mentoring a team of talented engineers. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in data systems, strong leadership skills, and a proven track record of delivering complex data projects at scale. Responsibilities In this role, you’ll: Lead the design and development of our data infrastructure, driving technical vision and strategy to ensure scalability, reliability, and performance. Serve as the subject matter expert in distributed systems, data technologies, with strong software engineering skills Architect and implement scalable and efficient data systems, storage solutions, and processing frameworks using state-of-the-art technologies. Drive technical innovation and research to stay at the forefront of emerging data technologies and best practices. Mentor and coach a team of talented engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning. Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to understand business requirements and translate them into scalable and efficient technical solutions. Ensure data quality, integrity, and security throughout the data lifecycle, adhering to industry best practices and compliance standards. Qualifications Not all applicants will have skills that match a job description exactly. Twilio values diverse experiences in other industries, and we encourage everyone who meets the required qualifications to apply. While having “desired” qualifications make for a strong candidate, we encourage applicants with alternative experiences to also 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: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. 10+ years of experience in software development, or a related field, with at least 5 years in a technical leadership role. Proven track record of architecting, delivering, and driving technical strategy of large-scale data platforms, especially utilizing cloud computing systems like AWS and deploying via K8s/Terraform/Helm. Expertise in big data technologies such as Clickhouse, Kafka, Spark and deep understanding of how partitioning, slicing and dicing big data works. Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, Bash, Go, with strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail. Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence technical decisions and drive alignment across teams. Track record of elevating engineering standards, mentoring across teams, and influencing organizational technical decisions, not just at the squad level. Deep commitment to operational excellence, with demonstrated experience in architecting for high availability, observability, and incident response in distributed systems. Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and deliver results under tight timelines. Desired Knowledge of tying into various authorization/authentication systems. Networking and network security knowledge. Deep expertise in Clickhouse: demonstrated experience in architecting, tuning, and operating Clickhouse at scale. Location This role will be remote, and based in the United States. 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 There are many benefits to working at Twilio, including, in addition to competitive pay, things like 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 Twi