Principal Software Engineer – Vector Search, Elasticsearch

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Switzerland.

📋 Description

• Lead projects within Elasticsearch to create a top-tier vector database solution that excels in speed and search relevance.

• Dedicate full-time efforts to Elasticsearch by developing new search functionalities, resolving bugs, enhancing code clarity, and creating algorithms or data structures.

• Collaborate with a globally distributed team focused on enhancing Elasticsearch's vector-search features.

• Act as the authority on the implementation of Elasticsearch vector similarity and enhance search relevance.

• Engage with community members worldwide regarding issues and pull requests, including triaging, handing off, and resolving queries.

• Write modern, idiomatic Java code.

⛳️ Requirements

• Developed innovative techniques in vector similarity for a search platform with a substantial user base or advanced academic research in vector similarity information retrieval.

• Professional experience in vector similarity and vector databases.

• Familiarity with HNSW, IVF, or other relevant algorithms and libraries used in large-scale search platforms.

• Proficient in core Java, including standard-library data structures, concurrency constructs, and lambda expressions.

• Capable of working independently and guiding projects from inception to completion, including technical design and collaboration with engineers.

• Comfortable with collaborative development practices, code reviews, providing and receiving feedback, APIs, and asynchronous online collaboration.

• Experience with data storage technologies such as Elasticsearch, Solr, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or Cassandra.

• Strong verbal and written communication abilities.

• Proven experience in leveraging AI to expedite development, troubleshoot complex systems, and optimize code while taking ownership of results.

• Ability to collaborate across functions and teams, transitioning between projects, codebases, or teams based on business priorities.

• Capacity to drive decisions and achieve results in a distributed team through clear, direct, and transparent communication.

• Bonus: Experience with Elasticsearch, open-source projects, source-control workflows, continuous integration, data-storage technologies, and cross-functional initiatives.

🏝️ Benefits

• Competitive compensation based on your contributions rather than previous salaries.

• Health insurance coverage for you and your family in various locations.

• Flexibility to design your schedule and location for many roles.

• Generous vacation time each year.

• Elastic matches up to $2000 (or local currency equivalent) for charitable donations and service.

• Up to 40 hours annually to dedicate to volunteer projects you are passionate about.

• A minimum of 16 weeks of parental leave.