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Principal Software Engineer - Vector Search - Elasticsearch

Elastic· Platform - Elasticsearch
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Remote€67k - €106kfull-timePosted 1mo ago

About the role

Principal Software Engineer focusing on enhancing vector similarity search within Elasticsearch, designing and implementing new vector search features, and resolving related bugs. Global, distributed team environment with emphasis on autonomous collaboration, code quality, and asynchronous communication.

Responsibilities

  • Lead initiatives within Elasticsearch to produce an industry-leading vector database offering, supplying unparalleled speed and relevance in search.
  • Contribute to Elasticsearch full time, building new search features and fixing intriguing bugs, including potential new algorithms or data structures and OS/hardware considerations.
  • Work with a globally distributed team focused on vector search capabilities of Elasticsearch.
  • Be an expert on how Elasticsearch implements vector similarity to support search relevance and drive improvements.
  • Collaborate with community members on issues and pull requests, triaging and handing off work as needed.
  • Write idiomatic modern Java—Elasticsearch is 99.8% Java!

Qualifications

  • Implemented novel techniques in vector similarity on a search platform with a large user base or contributed to academic research in vector similarity information retrieval.
  • Professional experience with vector similarity and vector databases, with experience using HNSW, IVF, or other relevant algorithms and libraries at scale.
  • Strong skills in core Java, knowledge of standard library data structures and concurrency, and familiarity with lambdas.
  • Ability to work autonomously from design to delivery, including technical leadership and cross-team collaboration.
  • Experience collaborating across distributed teams and open source projects; strong communication skills.
  • Experience with multiple data storage technologies (e.g., Elasticsearch, Solr, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Cassandra) and understanding of their workings.
  • Proven track record of using AI to accelerate development, debugging complex systems, and optimizing code while owning outcomes.
  • Ability to navigate multiple projects, codebases, or teams based on business priorities; effective asynchronous, direct, and transparent communication.

Skills

Required:Vector similarityJavaAlgorithms and data structuresDistributed collaboration
Nice to have:Open source / community collaboration

Benefits

  • Competitive pay with globally consistent benefits
  • Health coverage for employees and family in many locations
  • Flexible work calendar with location options and flexible schedules
  • Generous vacation days
  • Donation matching up to $2000 (or local currency equivalent)
  • Up to 40 hours per year for volunteer projects
  • Parental leave minimum 16 weeks
  • Diversity and inclusion initiatives; equal opportunity employer
  • Accommodation process available during recruitment
Last updated Sep 3, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.
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