Principal Software Engineer - Vector Search - Elasticsearch

Overview As a Principal Software Engineer on the Elasticsearch vector search team, you will shape a leading vector database experience at scale. You’ll design and implement new vector search features, optimize relevance and speed, and tackle challenging bugs, often close to OS and hardware. You will guide cross‑functional work with a globally distributed team and mentor others, influencing the vector similarity capabilities used by many users. This role combines deep algorithm work with practical, scalable software delivery to advance Elastic’s AI-driven search offering.

Leistungen / Benefits competitive pay health coverage for you and your family flexible locations and schedules generous vacation days donation matching up to $2000 volunteer hours (up to 40 per year) Verantwortungsbereiche Drive initiatives to deliver a leading vector database offering with high speed and relevance Build and enhance Elasticsearch vector search features, fix complex bugs, and implement new algorithms or data structures as needed Collaborate with a globally distributed team and engage with community members on issues and PRs Serve as a subject matter expert on vector similarity implementation within Elasticsearch for search relevance Contribute to code quality and maintainability by writing idiomatic Java and guiding architectural decisions Zentrale Anforderungen Experience with vector similarity on large-scale search platforms Hands-on use of vector search algorithms

(e.g., HNSW, IVF) in production Strong Java core skills and familiarity with concurrency and data structures Ability to own projects end-to-end and lead technical design and implementation Experience with collaborating across remote teams and open source communities Knowledge of data storage technologies (e.g., Elasticsearch, Solr, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Cassandra) and their trade-offs Proven track record of using AI to accelerate development and optimize code while owning outcomes Excellent verbal and written communication and ability to work across functions Collaboration Communication Empathy and respect in teamwork Vector similarity and vector databases HNSW, IVF or similar algorithms Java programming ( idiomatic Java, concurrency, lambdas)