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Principal Software Engineer - Search Infra - Elasticsearch

This full-time Principal Software Engineer role is part of the Elasticsearch Search Infra team in the United States and is marked as on-site. The team is…

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Location
United States
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Employment type
Full-time
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Published2h ago
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About This Role

This full-time Principal Software Engineer role is part of the Elasticsearch Search Infra team in the United States and is marked as on-site. The team is an international group of experienced engineers who work on a strong and broad search experience, with contributions to the search capabilities of Lucene. The role is to set and carry out the multi-year technical plan for Elasticsearch's core search infrastructure, spanning indexing, retrieval and…

Job Description

This full-time Principal Software Engineer role is part of the Elasticsearch Search Infra team in the United States and is marked as on-site. The team is an international group of experienced engineers who work on a strong and broad search experience, with contributions to the search capabilities of Lucene.

The role is to set and carry out the multi-year technical plan for Elasticsearch's core search infrastructure, spanning indexing, retrieval and relevance. The engineer leads the evolution of those capabilities, examines new developments in search infrastructure and retrieval algorithms, and works with partners and product teams to shape the search roadmap. The position is expected to make the engineer a recognised reference point across several areas of the product.

Candidates should have led technical projects in search or distributed systems, have built and operated complex search platforms, and be able to guide expert engineers. The posting asks for a defined multi-year plan for a search or retrieval engine at the core, practical work with Elasticsearch, Lucene or Solr, and strong Java skills covering concurrency and efficient data structures. Autonomy and clear communication are important.

The posting says compensation is base salary only, with no variable component. The typical starting range is 949,500 to 1,502,000 Norwegian kroner (NOK), and the final amount depends on experience, skills, role requirements and the scope of the position.

Responsibilities

  • Set and carry out the multi-year technical plan for indexing, retrieval and relevance
  • Lead the evolution of the search and indexing features at the centre of the product
  • Examine developments in search infrastructure and retrieval algorithms
  • Work with partners and product teams on the search roadmap
  • Become a recognised reference point across multiple Elasticsearch areas
  • Guide expert engineers on technical and professional matters

Requirements

  • Experience leading technical projects in search or distributed systems
  • Experience building and operating complex search platforms
  • Experience defining a multi-year plan for a search or retrieval engine at the core
  • Hands-on experience with Elasticsearch, Lucene or Solr
  • Strong Java skills, including concurrency and efficient data structures
  • High level of autonomy
  • Clear verbal and written communication

Qualifications

  • Background in large-scale data or search platforms and distributed storage engines
  • Experience with open source projects and common 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 949,500 to 1,502,000 Norwegian kroner. Base salary is the only form of pay, with no variable component.

What experience is expected?

Experience leading technical projects in search or distributed systems and defining a multi-year technical plan for a core search system is expected.

How is pay decided within the range?

The posting says it depends on relevant experience, skills, fit against the role's requirements and the scope and complexity of the role.

Sample Interview Questions

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Posted by employer: Not specified

Added to Jobsiz: Oct 13, 2026

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