Principal Engineer - AI Search & Vector Infrastructure

Principal Engineer - AI Search & Vector Infrastructure

Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the design and architecture of cutting-edge AI search and vector systems.
  • Company: Join Redis, a leader in fast app technology with a global impact.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace that values innovation and collaboration.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of AI infrastructure and tackle complex challenges.
  • Qualifications: Extensive experience in distributed systems and strong coding skills in C/C++ or Rust.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

Who We Are

We're Redis. We built the product that runs the fast apps our world runs on. At Redis, you’ll work with the fastest, simplest technology in the business—whether you’re building it, telling its story, or selling it to our 10,000+ worldwide customers. We’re creating a faster world with simpler experiences. This is a unique opportunity to shape Redis capabilities for the AI era early in the cycle.

We are looking for a highly experienced Principal Engineer to join the core Redis Search/AI organization and help define the architecture, technical strategy, and next‑generation capabilities powering AI workloads at global scale. In this role, you will work on some of the hardest problems in modern AI infrastructure, including vector indexing, hybrid retrieval, distributed query execution, latency‑critical serving, and large‑scale system design. You will influence the direction of the platform across teams and play a key role in turning advanced research and emerging industry trends into production‑ready capabilities used by millions of developers worldwide.

What You’ll Do

  • Drive the architecture and technical direction of Redis Search and Vector capabilities
  • Design scalable and high‑performance systems for vector search, retrieval, indexing, ranking, and AI serving workloads
  • Lead complex cross‑team initiatives spanning Redis Core, Cloud, AI, and infrastructure teams
  • Partner with engineering and product leadership to define long‑term strategy and roadmap
  • Translate emerging industry trends and customer needs into platform capabilities and technical investments
  • Lead technical design reviews and establish engineering best practices across the organization
  • Solve deep performance and scalability challenges in distributed and storage systems
  • Guide implementation of hardware‑aware optimizations (SIMD, GPU, SSD, CUDA)
  • Mentor senior engineers and help raise the technical bar across the engineering organization
  • Represent Redis externally through design discussions, open source engagement, technical talks, or community leadership

What You’ll Need To Have

  • Extensive experience designing and building large‑scale distributed systems, databases, search engines, storage engines, or AI infrastructure platforms
  • Strong industry background with experience at leading infrastructure, database, cloud, search, or AI‑focused technology companies
  • Proven track record leading architecture and delivering highly scalable production systems
  • Deep expertise in one or more of the following areas:
    • Vector search and information retrieval
    • Distributed systems
    • Storage engines and indexing
    • High‑performance systems and low‑latency serving
  • Strong proficiency in C/C++ or Rust, including concurrency, memory management, and performance optimization
  • Ability to influence technical direction across multiple teams and organizations
  • Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively with engineering, product, research, and leadership teams
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent practical experience

Extra great if you have

  • Experience building AI infrastructure or retrieval systems for large‑scale production environments
  • Familiarity with Redis internals or NoSQL database architectures
  • Experience with open‑source leadership or significant community contributions
  • Background in high‑performance multithreaded systems
  • Experience optimizing systems using modern hardware acceleration technologies
  • Experience mentoring senior technical leaders and scaling engineering organizations

As a global company, we value a culture of curiosity, diversity of thought, and innovation from our employees, customers, and partners. Redis is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment where all employees’ differences are celebrated and supported, and everyone feels safe to bring their authentic selves to work. Redis is dedicated to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national orientation, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity, gender expression, Veteran status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. We strive to create a workplace where every voice is heard, and every idea is respected. Redis is committed to working with and providing access and reasonable accommodation to applicants with mental and/or physical disabilities. If you think you may require accommodations for any part of the recruitment process, please send a request to recruiting@redis.com. All requests for accommodations are treated discreetly and confidentially, as practical and permitted by law. Any offer of employment at Redis is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, consistent with applicable laws. Redis reserves the right to retain data longer than stated in the privacy policy in order to evaluate candidates.

Principal Engineer - AI Search & Vector Infrastructure employer: GoTo Meeting

At Redis, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion ensures that every employee feels valued and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives. With ample opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work on cutting-edge AI infrastructure projects, Redis offers a dynamic environment where you can make a meaningful impact while enjoying a supportive and engaging workplace.

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Contact Details:

GoTo Meeting Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal Engineer - AI Search & Vector Infrastructure

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry, especially those at Redis or similar companies. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that a job description just can't.

Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! If you've got a portfolio or GitHub with projects related to AI infrastructure or distributed systems, make sure to highlight them. Real-world examples of your work can speak volumes.

Tip Number 3

Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your C/C++ or Rust skills. Practice coding challenges that focus on performance optimisation and system design. We want to see how you tackle complex problems!

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in being part of the Redis team.

We think you need these skills to ace Principal Engineer - AI Search & Vector Infrastructure

Large-Scale Distributed Systems Design
Database Architecture
Search Engine Development
AI Infrastructure Platforms
Vector Search and Information Retrieval
Storage Engines and Indexing
High-Performance Systems

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Experience:When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight your extensive experience in designing and building large-scale distributed systems. We want to see how your background aligns with the role, so don’t hold back on those impressive projects you've worked on!

Tailor Your Application:Take a moment to tailor your application specifically for this role. Mention your expertise in vector search, AI infrastructure, or any relevant technologies. This shows us that you understand what we’re looking for and that you’re genuinely interested in joining our team.

Be Clear and Concise:While we love detail, clarity is key! Make sure your application is easy to read and gets straight to the point. Use bullet points if necessary to break down your skills and experiences. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications.

Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about who we are and what we do at Redis.

How to prepare for a job interview at GoTo Meeting

Know Your Tech Inside Out

As a Principal Engineer, you'll need to demonstrate deep expertise in areas like vector search and distributed systems. Brush up on your knowledge of C/C++ or Rust, and be ready to discuss how you've tackled performance optimisation and scalability challenges in past projects.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills

This role involves influencing technical direction across teams, so be prepared to share examples of how you've led complex initiatives. Highlight your experience mentoring senior engineers and how you've raised the technical bar in previous roles.

Understand Redis and Its Ecosystem

Familiarise yourself with Redis internals and NoSQL database architectures. Being able to speak knowledgeably about how Redis operates and its capabilities will set you apart from other candidates and show your genuine interest in the company.

Communicate Effectively

Excellent communication skills are crucial for this position. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely, especially when discussing technical concepts. Be ready to engage in discussions about architecture and strategy with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.