or apply directly on Elastic's site. We never take the application ourselves.
Is this posting real?
- This role has been open
- 20 days Elastic's roles stay open a median of 32 days
- Reposted
- No
- Salary listed
- No 0% of Elastic's roles list one
- Ghost-job risk at Elastic
- low 0 stale, 5 reposted of 372 open
- Hiring momentum
- 495 roles opened in the last 90 days ↑ up vs. the prior 90 days
- Last confirmed on the employer's board
- 2026-09-17
Measured from postings appearing on and disappearing from Elastic's own greenhouse board since 2026-08-03. Full hiring picture for Elastic.
About this role
The Principal Software Engineer will focus on enhancing vector similarity search functionality within Elasticsearch, leading initiatives to improve the search experience. This role involves designing and implementing new features, fixing bugs, and collaborating with a globally distributed team of engineers. The engineer will also work closely with community members on issues and pull requests, contributing to the overall development of Elasticsearch.
- benefits
- 4/5
- freshness
- 4/5
- career value
- 4/5
- role clarity
- 5/5
- pay transparency
- 0/5
Scored from the posting itself — how clearly the role is described, how much it says about pay and benefits, and how recently it was listed. Not a judgement of Elastic as an employer.
What you need
- Professional experience with vector similarity and vector databases, using HNSW, IVF, or relevant algorithms and libraries on search platforms at scale.
- Strong skills in core Java and familiarity with data structures and concurrency constructs.
- Ability to work autonomously, guiding projects from beginning to end.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, especially in a collaborative environment.
- Proven track record of using AI to accelerate development and optimize code.
Nice to have
- Experience with Elasticsearch or open source projects.
- Familiarity with various data storage technologies like Solr, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or Cassandra.
- Experience designing and leading cross-functional initiatives.
What you get
- Competitive pay based on work performance, not previous salary.
- Health coverage for employees and their families in many locations.
- Flexible locations and schedules for many roles.
- Generous vacation days each year.
- Financial donation matching up to $2000 or local currency equivalent.
- Up to 40 hours per year for volunteer projects.
Worth weighing
- No specific mention of the technology stack beyond Java and Elasticsearch.
- The role emphasizes asynchronous collaboration, which may be challenging for some candidates.
- The compensation structure lacks a variable component, which may limit earning potential based on performance.
Summarised from Elastic's posting. Read the full original.
Listed by Elastic on their greenhouse job board, last confirmed open on 2026-09-17. PitchMeAI is not the employer.
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