Principal Software Engineer

Elastic, the Search AI Company, provides a cloud-based Search AI Platform for search, security, and observability, used by more than 50% of the Fortune 500.

We're looking for a Principal Software Engineer to join the Elasticsearch - Search team. This globally-distributed team focuses on delivering a robust and feature-rich search experience, including contributing to Lucene. The role focuses on enhancing vector similarity search functionality within Elasticsearch, covering design and implementation of new vector search features, enhancements to existing functionality, and resolving bugs.

• Lead initiatives within Elasticsearch to produce an industry-leading vector database offering.
• Contribute to Elasticsearch full time, building new search features and fixing bugs.
• Invent or implement new algorithms and data structures as needed.
• Work with a globally distributed team of experienced engineers focused on vector search capabilities.
• Be an expert on how Elasticsearch implements vector similarity; improve this area based on questions and instincts.
• Work with community members on issues and pull requests, triaging and handling them.
• Write idiomatic modern Java — Elasticsearch is 99.8% Java.

• Professional experience with vector similarity and vector databases, using HNSW, IVF, or other relevant algorithms and libraries on search platforms at scale.
• Strong skills in core Java, conversant in the standard library of data structures and concurrency constructs, and other features like lambdas.
• High level of autonomy, able to take on projects from beginning to end, including technical design and working with other engineers.
• Comfortable developing collaboratively, giving and receiving feedback on code, approaches, and APIs.
• Experience with several data storage technologies like Elasticsearch, Solr, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or Cassandra.
• 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, transitioning between projects, codebases, or teams based on business priorities.
• Work autonomously and drive decisions in a distributed team via asynchronous, direct, and transparent communication.

• Built things with Elasticsearch before.
• Worked with open source projects and familiar with different styles of source control workflow and continuous integration.
• Experience with data storage technology.
• Experience designing, leading and owning cross-functional initiatives.

Compensation is in the form of base salary; this role does not have a variable compensation component. The typical starting salary range for this role is €80.400—€127.200 EUR.

• Health coverage for you and your family in many locations.
• Minimum of 16 weeks of parental leave.