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Principal Software Engineer - Vector Search - Elasticsearch

Elastic· Platform - Elasticsearch
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Hybrid (Poland)PLN 369.4k - PLN 584.3kfull-timePosted 1mo ago

About the role

Principal Software Engineer focusing on vector similarity search within Elasticsearch, contributing to design, implementation, and improvements of vector search features and related algorithms, collaborating with a globally distributed team.

Responsibilities

  • Lead initiatives within Elasticsearch to produce an industry-leading vector database offering with fast, relevant search.
  • Contribute to Elasticsearch by building new search features, fixing bugs, and potentially inventing new algorithms or data structures.
  • Collaborate with a globally distributed team of engineers focused on vector search capabilities.
  • Serve as an expert on how Elasticsearch implements vector similarity to support search relevance and drive improvements.
  • Engage with community members worldwide on issues and pull requests, triaging or handling them as needed.
  • Write idiomatic modern Java and contribute to code quality and understandability.

Qualifications

  • Implemented novel techniques in vector similarity on a large-scale search platform or contributed to academic research in vector similarity information retrieval.
  • Professional experience with vector similarity and vector databases; used algorithms/libraries such as HNSW, IVF, or equivalent at scale.
  • Strong core Java skills and familiarity with standard data structures, concurrency, and features like lambdas.
  • Ability to work autonomously, drive projects from design to delivery, and collaborate across engineers to build components.
  • Experience collaborating across teams and across the internet (asynchronous collaboration is a plus).
  • Experience with data storage technologies (e.g., Elasticsearch, Solr, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Cassandra).
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills; collaborative and respectful working style.
  • Proven track record of using AI to accelerate development, debugging, and optimizing code while owning outcomes.
  • Ability to transition between projects, codebases, or teams based on business priorities.

Skills

Required:JavaVector similarity algorithmsSystem design and data structuresCollaboration and communicationStorage technologies
Nice to have:Open source collaboration

Benefits

  • Competitive pay with flexible locations and schedules
  • Health coverage for employee and family in many locations
  • Generous vacation days
  • Donation matching up to $2000 (local equivalent)
  • Up to 40 hours/year for volunteer projects
  • Maternity/paternity support with at least 16 weeks of parental leave
  • Inclusive, diverse work environment with equal opportunity employment
Last updated Sep 3, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.
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