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Elastic

Principal Software Engineer - Vector Search - Elasticsearch

Elastic · Portugal

Posted 20 days ago

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 lead initiatives to enhance vector similarity search functionality within Elasticsearch, focusing on designing and implementing new features and fixing bugs. The role involves collaborating with a globally distributed team, contributing to code, and improving search relevance while working with modern Java. The engineer will also engage with community members on issues and pull requests, ensuring a robust and feature-rich search experience.

Our read on this posting3.6out of 5
benefits
4/5
freshness
4/5
career value
5/5
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

  • Experience implementing techniques in vector similarity on a search platform with a large user base or in academic research in vector similarity information retrieval
  • Professional experience with vector similarity and vector databases, using algorithms like HNSW or IVF
  • Strong skills in core Java and familiarity with data structures and concurrency constructs
  • Ability to work autonomously and guide projects from start to finish
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Proven track record of using AI to accelerate development and optimize code

Nice to have

  • Experience with Elasticsearch
  • Familiarity with open source projects and different source control workflows
  • Experience designing and leading cross-functional initiatives

What you get

  • Competitive pay based on the work you do
  • Health coverage for you and your family in many locations
  • Flexible locations and schedules for many roles
  • Generous vacation days each year
  • Financial donation matching up to $2000
  • Up to 40 hours each year for volunteer projects

Worth weighing

  • No variable compensation component mentioned
  • Salary range provided but not guaranteed; final compensation based on various factors
  • Role involves significant collaboration over the internet, which may be challenging for some

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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