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Principal Software Engineer - Vector Search - Elasticsearch

Elastic· Platform - Elasticsearch
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Hybrid (Spain)€80.4k - €127.2kfull-timePosted 1mo ago

About the role

Principal Software Engineer focused on enhancing vector similarity search within Elasticsearch, designing and implementing new vector search features, improving existing functionality, and resolving bugs for a globally distributed team.

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, possibly inventing new algorithms or data structures, and sometimes working close to OS/hardware.
  • Be an expert on how Elasticsearch implements vector similarity in support of search relevance and drive improvements based on questions and instincts.
  • Work with community members worldwide on issues and pull requests, triaging and handing them off to others as needed, or handling them yourself.
  • Write idiomatic modern Java – Elasticsearch is 99.8% Java!

Qualifications

  • Implemented novel techniques in vector similarity on a high-usage search platform or contributed to academic research in vector similarity information retrieval.
  • Professional experience with vector similarity and vector databases, and use of HNSW, IVF, or other relevant algorithms and libraries at scale.
  • Strong skills in core Java, standard library data structures and concurrency, and familiarity with lambdas.
  • Ability to work autonomously from design to delivery, including technical design and cross-team collaboration.
  • Experience collaborating over the internet (asynchronous collaboration is a bonus).
  • Exposure to data storage technologies like Elasticsearch, Solr, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or Cassandra.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication; collaborative and respectful in online environments.
  • Proven track record of using AI to accelerate development, debug complex systems, and optimize code while owning outcomes.
  • Ability to collaborate across functions and transition between projects as priorities shift.
  • Autonomous with ability to drive decisions in a distributed team via asynchronous, direct, and transparent communication.

Skills

Required:Vector similarity searchJavaAlgorithm/data structures
Nice to have:Distributed collaborationOpen source / tooling

Benefits

  • Competitive pay based on the work you do here and not your previous salary
  • Health coverage for you and your family in many locations
  • Flexible locations and schedules for many roles
  • Generous number of vacation days
  • Match up to $2000 for financial donations and service
  • Up to 40 hours per year for volunteer projects
  • Minimum 16 weeks of parental leave
Last updated Sep 3, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.
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