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ElasticPrincipal Software Engineer - Search Infra - Elasticsearch
This full-time Principal Software Engineer role is on the Elasticsearch Search Infra team, based in the United States and listed as on-site. The team works on…
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About This Role
This full-time Principal Software Engineer role is on the Elasticsearch Search Infra team, based in the United States and listed as on-site. The team works on core search capability for Elasticsearch, including improvements to search in Lucene, and is made up of engineers around the world. The engineer is responsible for the long-term design of Elasticsearch's core search infrastructure, which covers indexing, retrieval and relevance. Work includes building the next…
Job Description
This full-time Principal Software Engineer role is on the Elasticsearch Search Infra team, based in the United States and listed as on-site. The team works on core search capability for Elasticsearch, including improvements to search in Lucene, and is made up of engineers around the world.
The engineer is responsible for the long-term design of Elasticsearch's core search infrastructure, which covers indexing, retrieval and relevance. Work includes building the next wave of search capabilities, studying new search data structures and retrieval algorithms, and advising partners and product teams on where the search roadmap should go.
Applicants should bring a record of leading technical projects across search infrastructure or distributed systems and the ability to mentor expert engineers. A defined multi-year plan for a search or retrieval engine at the core is expected, along with hands-on work in Elasticsearch, Lucene or Solr. Strong Java skills, including concurrency and modern language features, are needed. The role rewards autonomy and clear, respectful communication across distributed teams.
Pay is base salary only, with no variable component. The posting gives a typical starting range of 369,400 to 584,300 Polish zloty (PLN), and says the final amount depends on experience, skills, role requirements and the scope of the position.
Responsibilities
- Lead the long-term design of core search infrastructure covering indexing, retrieval and relevance
- Build the next wave of search capabilities
- Study new search data structures and retrieval algorithms
- Advise partners and product teams on the search roadmap
- Serve as the expert for several Elasticsearch domains
- Mentor expert engineers
Requirements
- Experience leading technical projects in search infrastructure or distributed systems
- Ability to mentor expert engineers
- Defined 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 modern language features
- Autonomy in taking projects from concept to completion
- Clear communication across distributed teams
Qualifications
- Background in large-scale data or search platforms
- Experience with open source projects and source control and CI practices
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 369,400 to 584,300 PLN. Base salary is the only form of pay, with no variable component.
What skills are needed?
Strong Java, hands-on experience with Elasticsearch, Lucene or Solr, and experience leading technical projects in search or distributed systems are needed.
Is remote work described?
The posting describes a globally distributed team that collaborates over email, GitHub, video calls and chat. It does not state a remote-only arrangement, and the listing marks the role as on-site.
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