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Principal Software Engineer - Search Algorithms - Elasticsearch

Elastic· Platform - Elasticsearch
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Hybrid (Greece)€73.3k - €115.9kfull-timePosted 1mo ago

About the role

Principal Software Engineer role focused on enhancing vector similarity search functionality within Elasticsearch, including design and implementation of new vector search features, improvements to existing vector search, and bug resolution. Fully distributed team with emphasis on autonomous, collaborative development and contributing to Lucene alongside building an industry-leading vector database offering.

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 bugs, including potential invention of new algorithms or data structures and close interaction with OS/hardware.
  • Work with a globally distributed team focused on vector search capabilities of Elasticsearch.
  • Be an expert on Elasticsearch's vector similarity implementation to support search relevance and drive improvements.
  • Collaborate with community members worldwide on issues and pull requests, triaging or handing off to other experts as needed.
  • Write idiomatic modern Java; contribute to code that is 99.8% Java.

Qualifications

  • Professional experience with vector similarity and vector databases, familiarity with HNSW, IVF, or other relevant algorithms and libraries at scale.
  • Strong skills in core Java and standard data structures, concurrency constructs, and features like lambdas.
  • Ability to work autonomously on end-to-end projects including technical design and cross-team collaboration.
  • Experience collaborating across distributed teams and asynchronous collaboration is valued.
  • Experience with data storage technologies such as Elasticsearch, Solr, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or Cassandra.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to collaborate respectfully and effectively online.
  • Proven track record of using AI to accelerate development, debugging complex systems, and optimizing code while owning final outcomes.
  • Ability to transition between different projects, codebases, or teams based on business priorities.
  • Ability to drive decisions and results in a distributed team via asynchronous, direct, and transparent communication.

Skills

Required:Vector similarity / vector databasesJavaDistributed collaborationCross-functional collaboration

Benefits

  • Competitive pay based on work performed, not previous salary
  • Health coverage for you and your family in many locations
  • Flexible locations and schedules for many roles
  • Generous vacation days
  • Company match of up to $2000 (or local currency equivalent) for charitable donations and service
  • Up to 40 hours annually for volunteer projects
  • Minimum 16 weeks of parental leave
  • Diversity and inclusion initiatives; equal opportunity employer; accommodations available on request
Last updated Sep 3, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.
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