Research Engineer

Research Engineer Overview

This role sits within Neo4j Research, where the team’s purpose is to create new technology options through research so that product engineering can continue to push the market forward. The group is made up of computer scientists and systems builders who enjoy developing the technologies that will support Neo4j’s future graph intelligence platform. The work is intentionally ambitious, experimental, and collaborative, with a culture that values trying new ideas, challenging established assumptions, and enjoying the process along the way.

The specific project for this position is Aurendil, an effort to build a new kind of database runtime for graph databases. The project is exploring a radically different query language runtime, influenced by advances in programming language technology, and aims to create a prototype from scratch. The role is part of a broader effort to develop the next generation of graph databases and to help define how Neo4j will execute queries on cloud hardware in the future.

What you will do

• Contribute to the design and implementation of the Aurendil prototype, starting from the ground up rather than extending an existing system.
• Take part in the full lifecycle of a new database architecture, including the theoretical foundations, the practical implementation, and the evaluation of results.
• Help build a novel runtime for graph database queries, informed by ideas from programming language research.
• Work closely with a cross-disciplinary research group to turn the Aurendil vision into a working system.
• Share research findings with Neo4j’s product engineering teams so that the work can influence future product direction.
• Disseminate results to the academic research community as part of the role’s research responsibilities.
• Apply systems research expertise to areas such as query languages, database systems, compilers, parallel execution, distributed systems, and hardware acceleration.
• Contribute to a team that is exploring new approaches to database runtime design and cloud execution, with an emphasis on innovation and technical originality.

What the team is looking for

• Post-doctoral researchers with a strong background in systems-oriented research.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas: query languages and their implementation; programming languages and their implementation; compiler construction and code generation using tools or targets such as LLVM, x86, or ARM; managed runtimes and virtual machines such as JVM or GraalVM; database internals; parallel computing; distributed computing; or hardware acceleration such as GPGPUs, FPGAs, or smart NICs.
• Prior experience in an academic or industrial research environment, along with a clear understanding of how research is conducted and evaluated.
• Strong systems development skills, ideally with experience building complex software in C++, Java, or Rust.
• Ability to work on a project that spans research, engineering, and evaluation, with results that can be communicated both internally and externally.
• Interest in working on a project that challenges conventional database architecture and explores new runtime designs for cloud hardware.
• Willingness to work from London, UK, with a substantial in-office presence.
• Comfort with the application questions about legal work eligibility, current or future sponsorship needs, BrightHire interview recording and transcription, and regular commuting to the office.

Working arrangement

The position is based in London and is not a fully remote role. Neo4j states that the job requires a significant amount of time in the office, and the application form also asks candidates whether they are comfortable commuting to the office on a weekly basis, with an example of one to three days per week.

Visa and sponsorship

Neo4j says it can provide visa support for exceptional international applicants. The application form also asks whether the candidate is legally able to work in the region and whether they will need sponsorship now or in the future.

Why Neo4j

Neo4j describes itself as the leading graph intelligence platform, used by organizations across many industries around the world. The company says its technology helps turn data into knowledge and supports intelligent applications and AI systems with enterprise-ready knowledge graphs, trusted graph capabilities, and a broad ecosystem. It emphasizes that its platform is built to work across environments and data sources and to integrate with other systems.

The company highlights strong business momentum, including annual recurring revenue above $200M, rapid growth over the last several years, a large Series F funding round, more than $600M in total funding, and a valuation above $2Bn. It also notes broad enterprise adoption, including use by a large share of the Fortune 100 and Fortune 500, and cites well-known customers across sectors such as healthcare, telecoms, manufacturing, technology, media, education, retail, and finance.

Neo4j also points to its culture, saying it values relationships, inclusiveness, innovation, customer success, collaboration, open discussion, positive intent, and delivering on commitments. The company presents itself as a place where people are empowered to contribute, make an impact, and help shape the future of data and analytics.

Inclusion and application encouragement

Neo4j states that it is committed to building an inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace where everyone can develop their potential and have a positive, career-defining experience. It also encourages applicants from underrepresented communities to apply even if they do not meet every qualification listed, noting that people sometimes hesitate to apply when they do not match all of the requirements.

Application process

Applicants are asked to submit a resume or CV and may also provide a cover letter, LinkedIn profile, website, and other application details. The form includes questions about prior experience with Neo4j, legal right to work in the region, whether sponsorship is needed now or in the future, comfort with BrightHire being used to record and transcribe interviews, and willingness to commute to the office on a weekly basis. The page also includes an optional demographic survey that is voluntary, anonymous, and not used in hiring decisions.

Neo4j notes that it protects applicant privacy and refers candidates to its recruitment privacy notice for more information about how personal data is handled.

Degree Requirement: Not Specified

Visa Sponsorship Promising