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ElasticPrincipal Software Engineer - Search Infra - Elasticsearch
This full-time Principal Software Engineer role is on the Elasticsearch Search Infra team, listed as on-site in the United States. The group is globally distributed and…
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About This Role
This full-time Principal Software Engineer role is on the Elasticsearch Search Infra team, listed as on-site in the United States. The group is globally distributed and focuses on delivering robust search functionality, including contributions to Lucene's search experience. The engineer defines the technical roadmap for Elasticsearch's core search and indexing capabilities. Responsibilities include steering indexing, retrieval and relevance, researching better data structures and retrieval algorithms, and working with partners and…
Job Description
This full-time Principal Software Engineer role is on the Elasticsearch Search Infra team, listed as on-site in the United States. The group is globally distributed and focuses on delivering robust search functionality, including contributions to Lucene's search experience.
The engineer defines the technical roadmap for Elasticsearch's core search and indexing capabilities. Responsibilities include steering indexing, retrieval and relevance, researching better data structures and retrieval algorithms, and working with partners and product teams to shape the long-term plan for search. The engineer is expected to become a go-to resource for several areas of Elasticsearch and to keep improving them.
Required experience includes leading technical work in search infrastructure or distributed systems, mentoring experienced engineers and defining a multi-year plan for a search or retrieval engine at the core. Hands-on skill with Elasticsearch, Lucene or Solr, strong core Java and familiarity with concurrency constructs are needed. Autonomy, supportive collaboration and strong communication are valued.
Compensation is base salary only, with no variable component. The posting gives a typical starting range of 67,000 to 106,000 euros, and the final figure depends on experience, skills, role requirements and the scope of the position.
Responsibilities
- Define the technical roadmap for core search and indexing capabilities
- Steer indexing, retrieval and relevance work
- Research better data structures and retrieval algorithms
- Work with partners and product teams on the long-term search plan
- Be a go-to resource for several areas of Elasticsearch
Requirements
- Experience leading technical projects in search infrastructure or distributed systems
- Experience mentoring experienced engineers
- Defined multi-year plan for a search or retrieval engine at the core
- Hands-on experience with Elasticsearch, Lucene or Solr
- Strong core Java and familiarity with concurrency constructs
- Autonomy and supportive collaboration
- Strong communication skills
Qualifications
- Background in large-scale data or search platforms
- Experience with open source projects and source control workflows
Core Skills
Benefits
- Competitive pay set by the work performed, not by previous salary
- Health coverage for employees and their families in many locations
- Scheduling and location flexibility for many roles
- Generous annual vacation allowance
- Company match of up to $2,000 (or local equivalent) for donations and service
- Up to 40 hours a year available for volunteer work
- At least 16 weeks of parental leave
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers are based only on the employer’s listing; where it doesn’t say, neither do we.
Where is this role based?
The listing gives the United States as the location and marks the role as on-site.
Is the role full-time?
Yes. The listing states full-time employment.
What is the salary range?
The posting gives a typical starting base salary range of 67,000 to 106,000 euros. Base salary is the only form of pay, with no variable component.
What technical skills are required?
Strong core Java, familiarity with concurrency, and hands-on experience with Elasticsearch, Lucene or Solr are required.
Are there bonus points?
Building with Elasticsearch, experience in search and retrieval, and open source work are listed as bonus points.
Sample Interview Questions
AI-generated questions tailored to this specific role — a preview of the full practice set.