Expert Backend Engineer (Vespa Search Engine) - SRA Team
Summary
Build and optimize Shopee’s search engine backend using C++, focusing on indexing, query execution, and vector search (HNSW) for faster retrieval and ranking.
Job Description:
Design, implement, and operate components of the search engine - indexing, query execution, ranking, or storage using C++ Improve indexing and retrieval performance: SIMD-friendly data layouts, cache-aware algorithms, lock contention Extend vector search capabilities (HNSW and beyond) and integrate them cleanly with traditional inverted-index retrieval Build tooling and automation that makes the team faster - capacity models, fault-injection tests, deployment checks, AI-assisted workflows Participate in design reviews, code reviews, and on-call rotation
Requirements:
Bachelor's Degree or higher in Computer Science or related field. At least 5 years of full time backend development experience using C++/Go/Python. Experience working on Vespa Search Engine is preferred. Familiarity with vector search and ANN algorithms (HNSW, IVF, PQ). Solid foundation in data structures, algorithms, and systems. You can reason about cache behavior, memory layout, and concurrency. Experience operating non-trivial services in production: profiling, debugging core dumps, reading flamegraphs, tracing distributed requests. Comfortable working in a large existing codebase. Strong written communication. You write design docs and PR descriptions that the next on-call can actually use.
Design, implement, and operate components of the search engine - indexing, query execution, ranking, or storage using C++ Improve indexing and retrieval performance: SIMD-friendly data layouts, cache-aware algorithms, lock contention Extend vector search capabilities (HNSW and beyond) and integrate them cleanly with traditional inverted-index retrieval Build tooling and automation that makes the team faster - capacity models, fault-injection tests, deployment checks, AI-assisted workflows Participate in design reviews, code reviews, and on-call rotation
Requirements:
Bachelor's Degree or higher in Computer Science or related field. At least 5 years of full time backend development experience using C++/Go/Python. Experience working on Vespa Search Engine is preferred. Familiarity with vector search and ANN algorithms (HNSW, IVF, PQ). Solid foundation in data structures, algorithms, and systems. You can reason about cache behavior, memory layout, and concurrency. Experience operating non-trivial services in production: profiling, debugging core dumps, reading flamegraphs, tracing distributed requests. Comfortable working in a large existing codebase. Strong written communication. You write design docs and PR descriptions that the next on-call can actually use.