Senior Software Developer - Vector Search - Elasticsearch

ABOUT THE ROLE Elastic is the Search AI Company that powers more than half of the Fortune 500 with a cloud‑native platform that blends precision search and advanced AI. As a Senior Software Developer on the Vector Search team, you will help shape the next generation of Elasticsearch’s vector‑based search capabilities. Your work will directly influence how millions of customers retrieve relevant results from structured and unstructured data at scale, driving the core mission of delivering instant, accurate answers to every query. You will collaborate with a globally distributed group of world‑class engineers, contributing to both the architectural vision and the day‑to‑day implementation of cutting‑edge search features. WHAT YOU'LL DO Lead the design and implementation of high‑performance vector search algorithms, ensuring they meet strict latency and scalability targets. Own end‑to‑end feature development, from requirement gathering and prototyping to production‑grade code and rigorous testing. Mentor junior teammates through code reviews and pair programming, fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Drive technical direction by evaluating new research, experimenting with novel data structures, and integrating them into the core engine. Collaborate closely with product, data science, and infrastructure teams to translate business goals into robust, maintainable solutions. Resolve complex bugs and performance bottlenecks, often requiring low‑level system optimizations or hardware‑aware tuning. WHAT YOU'LL NEED At least 8 years of professional software development experience, with a strong background in Java and C++ and a deep understanding of search engine internals. Proven expertise in vector search, similarity metrics, and nearest‑neighbor algorithms such as HNSW or IVF. Demonstrated ability to write clean, well‑tested, and efficient code that runs at scale. Experience with distributed systems, concurrency, and memory‑constrained environments. Strong analytical skills, capable of dissecting performance issues and proposing data‑driven solutions. Excellent communication skills in English, able to articulate complex concepts to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders. A track record of contributing to open‑source projects or publishing research is highly desirable. WHY REMOTE Elastic’s distributed model is intentional: we hire the best talent regardless of location and empower engineers to work where they thrive. Our asynchronous collaboration tools—GitHub, Slack, Zoom, and email—enable seamless teamwork across time zones. Flexible schedules allow you to balance personal commitments while meeting project milestones. The remote culture emphasizes ownership, trust, and incremental progress, giving you the autonomy to innovate without micromanagement. BENEFITS Competitive salary and equity package. Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents. Generous paid time off and flexible holiday policy. Remote work stipend to support home‑office setup. Dedicated learning budget for courses, conferences, and certifications. Access to Elastic’s internal knowledge base, mentorship programs, and a vibrant community of engineers worldwide.