Principal Software Engineer - Vector Search Algorithms (Elasticsearch)

About the role

Elastic is looking for a Principal Software Engineer to join its Elasticsearch - Search team, which delivers a robust, feature-rich search experience and contributes to improving the search experience in Lucene. The role focuses on enhancing vector similarity search in Elasticsearch: designing and implementing new vector search features, improving existing ones and resolving bugs. The team is globally distributed, working across continents via email, GitHub, Zoom and Slack.

Key responsibilities

• Lead initiatives within Elasticsearch to deliver an industry-leading vector database offering with speed and relevance in search.
• Build new search features and fix bugs, keeping the code easy to understand, and invent or implement new algorithms and data structures.
• Work with a globally distributed team of experienced engineers on vector search capabilities.
• Act as the expert on how Elasticsearch implements vector similarity, improving it based on questions and instincts.
• Work with community members worldwide on issues and pull requests, triaging and handing them off or handling them yourself.
• Write idiomatic modern Java (Elasticsearch is 99.8% Java).

Required profile

• Professional experience with vector similarity and vector databases, having used HNSW, IVF or other relevant algorithms and libraries on search platforms at scale.
• Strong autonomy, able to take projects from start to finish, including technical design and coordination with other engineers.
• Comfortable collaborating asynchronously over the internet, giving and receiving feedback on code and APIs.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven track record of using AI to accelerate development, debug complex systems and optimize code.
• Ability to collaborate across functions and teams and switch between projects and codebases according to business priorities.

Required skills

• Core Java and the standard library of data structures and concurrency constructs.
• Experience with several data storage technologies such as Elasticsearch, Solr, PostgreSQL, MongoDB or Cassandra.
• Bonus: prior work with Elasticsearch, open-source projects, CI/CD workflows, and experience designing and owning cross-functional initiatives.

What we offer

• Base salary only, with no variable component; typical range 369,400 to 584,300 PLN.
• Health coverage for you and your family in many locations.
• Flexible locations and schedules for many roles.
• Generous number of vacation days each year.
• Matching of up to $2,000 (or local currency equivalent) for donations and service, and up to 40 hours per year for volunteer projects.
• Parental leave of at least 16 weeks.