Principal Software Engineer - Vector Search - Elasticsearch

About the Role

Elastic is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join the Elasticsearch - Search team. This globally-distributed team focuses on delivering a robust search experience, including contributions to Lucene. This principal engineering role focuses on enhancing vector similarity search functionality within Elasticsearch, including the design and implementation of new vector search features, enhancements to existing functionality, and resolving bugs.

Responsibilities

• Lead initiatives within Elasticsearch to deliver an industry-leading vector database offering with speed and search relevance.
• Contribute to Elasticsearch full time, building search features and resolving complex bugs while improving code clarity.
• Invent or implement algorithms and data structures, working close to the operating system and hardware when needed.
• Serve as an expert on how Elasticsearch implements vector similarity in support of search relevance.
• Collaborate with globally distributed team members and open source community members on issues and pull requests.
• Write idiomatic modern Java.

Requirements

• Experience implementing novel techniques in vector similarity on a large-scale search platform or relevant academic research in vector similarity information retrieval.
• Professional experience with vector similarity, vector databases, and algorithms/libraries like HNSW or IVF at scale.
• Strong skills in core Java, standard concurrency constructs, data structures, and modern language features.
• High level of autonomy to design and lead projects end-to-end.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate asynchronously across distributed teams.
• Experience with data storage technologies (such as Elasticsearch, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or Cassandra).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Track record of leveraging AI tools to accelerate development, debugging, and code optimization.

Bonus Points

• Prior experience building with Elasticsearch.
• Familiarity with open source projects, source control workflows, and continuous integration.
• Experience designing, leading, and owning cross-functional initiatives.