Principal Software Engineer - Search Algorithms - Elasticsearch

Elastic
Switzerland
Full timeFunction: Software EngineeringSkills: ["Communication","Autonomy","Collaboration","Code review","Problem-solving"]

Lead initiatives to enhance Elasticsearch’s vector database and vector similarity search, designing and implementing new vector search features, improving existing functionality, and resolving complex bugs. Work with a globally distributed team to deliver fast, scalable search relevance, sometimes inventing algorithms or data structures and occasionally working close to OS and hardware. Serve as an expert in Elasticsearch’s vector similarity implementation and collaborate with the open-source community through issues and pull requests.

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FursaFursa
Elastic
Elastic
2 days ago

Principal Software Engineer - Search Algorithms - Elasticsearch

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Last checked: 5 hours agoStatus: Live

Job Summary

Lead initiatives to enhance Elasticsearch’s vector database and vector similarity search, designing and implementing new vector search features, improving existing functionality, and resolving complex bugs. Work with a globally distributed team to deliver fast, scalable search relevance, sometimes inventing algorithms or data structures and occasionally working close to OS and hardware. Serve as an expert in Elasticsearch’s vector similarity implementation and collaborate with the open-source community through issues and pull requests.
Location: Switzerland
Employment Type: Full time
Job Function: Software Engineering
Seniority: Mid level

Key Responsibilities

  • •Lead initiatives to produce an industry-leading vector database offering and improve speed and relevance in search.
  • •Build and fix vector search features and bugs in Elasticsearch while making the codebase easier to understand.
  • •Develop new algorithms or data structures as needed for vector similarity search improvements.
  • •Collaborate with globally distributed engineers on Elasticsearch’s vector search capabilities and provide expert guidance.
  • •Engage with community members via issues and pull requests, triaging or handling them as appropriate.

Pay and Benefits

Perks:Health InsurancePaid LeaveParental LeaveVolunteer Time

Key Requirements

  • •Professional experience with vector similarity and vector databases, using algorithms like HNSW, IVF, or similar on search platforms at scale.
  • •Strong core Java skills and familiarity with data structures and concurrency constructs (including lambdas).
  • •Demonstrated ability to take projects from design through delivery with both technical ownership and collaboration.
  • •Comfort contributing in distributed teams using feedback loops and code reviews; experience collaborating asynchronously is a plus.
  • •Working knowledge of data storage technologies such as Elasticsearch, Solr, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or Cassandra, including how and why they work.
Experience:Vector databasesSearchOpen sourceDistributed teamsData storage
Skills:CommunicationAutonomyCollaborationCode reviewProblem-solving
Tech Stack:JavaElasticsearchLuceneVector similarityVector databasesHNSWIVFSolrPostgreSQLMongoDBCassandraGitHubZoomSlackAsynchronous communicationContinuous integration

Company Brief

Elastic
Builds the Elastic Stack (Elasticsearch, Kibana, Beats, Logstash) and provides search, observability, and security solutions that enable organizations to search, analyze, and protect data in real time across applications, infrastructure, and enterprises.
Industry: Data Infrastructure
Company Size: Enterprise (1,001+ employees)
Revenue: USD 1B+
Growth: Public Company
Valuation: Public Company (Market Cap in USD)
Funding: IPO / Publicly Listed
Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Founded: 2012
WebsiteLinkedIn