Overview Job Type: Term (Fixed Term) RAND's Meselson Center, part of the Global and Emerging Risks (GER) division, is seeking an accomplished technical leader to drive our frontier AI security research agenda. As Research Lead - Securing Frontier AI, you will direct a comprehensive research portfolio focused on ensuring that the world's most important AI systems are appropriately secured and addressing challenges at the intersection of AI, information security, and national security. You will manage significant research budgets and personnel, oversee complex technical research and policy analysis projects, and lead multidisciplinary teams of policy researchers, engineers, and scientists. Your work will shape recommendations for the White House, regulatory agencies, the intelligence community, other national governments, and industry leaders. Your team will communicate findings to technical and non-technical audiences through quick-turnaround policy briefs and detailed technical analyses. A recent example is the Securing AI Model Weights report, which explored protecting frontier AI model weights from theft and misuse. This position is structured as a focused two-year appointment to create urgency to drive ambitious change. Every day of tenure will count toward achieving ambitious projects in AI security. The appointment may be renewed for an additional year, with options for longer-term employment at RAND thereafter. RAND's reputation for excellence is built on high-quality, rigorous analysis and objectivity. As a Research Lead - Securing Frontier AI, you will have access to RAND's leading researchers, government and industry connections, and world-class analytical resources. Responsibilities Direct a focused frontier AI security research portfolio and drive ambitious research outcomes. Manage significant budgets and personnel; oversee complex technical research and policy analysis projects. Lead multidisciplinary teams of policy researchers, engineers, and scientists; mentor and develop team members. Communicate findings to technical and non-technical audiences through policy briefs and in-depth analyses. Shape recommendations for government agencies, international partners, and industry leaders. Qualifications All research positions at RAND require: excellent analytic skills; the ability to communicate clearly in writing and orally; the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team; and a strong commitment to RAND's core values of quality and objectivity. Required: 6+ years of technical experience in security engineering, software engineering, firmware engineering, hardware engineering, or related fields 6+ years of technical management experience, including leading cross-functional teams, managing project budgets, and mentoring and developing team members Demonstrated ability to successfully lead complex projects to completion Proficiency in Python, Java, C/C++, or other popular programming languages Ability to develop rigorous and comprehensive threat models and identify potential system vulnerabilities Strong ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing Ability to reason about policy options given different technical considerations Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment Fluency with MS Office suite Preferred: Graduate of CNODP, RIOT, FORGE, or equivalent experience Experience with red team operations or offensive cyber capabilities development Understanding of advanced persistent threat (APT) tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) and experience with defending against them Creative thinking about offensive/defensive techniques beyond existing regulations Familiarity with U.S. cybersecurity agencies, authorities, and policy development processes Experience working in or with government on cybersecurity policy Experience advising non-technical stakeholders on security topics Familiarity with the AI/ML hardware stack (GPUs, TPUs, data center design) and software stack (CUDA, PyTorch, TensorFlow, Ray) Experience working on AI research, ML model training, or model deployment Experience with securing AI systems Education Requirements RAND is hiring a Research Lead at either the specialist or expert level. Minimum education requirements at the specialist level include: A PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Cybersecurity, Information Security, Information Technology, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Physics, Applied Physics, Engineering Physics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Engineering and Public Policy, Technology and Policy, National Security Policy, Policy Analysis, Political Science, International Relations, or similar with at least 3 years of relevant professional experience. OR a Master’s degree in the fields listed above with at least 6 years of relevant professional experience. OR a Bachelor’s degree in the fields listed above with at least 8 years of relevant professional experience. Master’s or PhD preferred. Security Clearance Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government clearance is preferred but not required. Location Locations include San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC; Santa Monica, CA; Pittsburgh, PA; and Boston, MA. Hybrid work arrangement available; fully remote work will be considered. Writing or Code Sample A writing sample or code sample is required. The sample should demonstrate relevant technical expertise and can be a recent paper, technical report, or source code. Term This position is a 2-year term with potential renewal for up to 3 years, alongside options for longer-term employment. Salary Range $137,000 - $246,600. Visiting Technical Specialist: $137,000 - $209,000; Visiting Technical Expert: $157,800 - $246,600. RAND offers competitive benefits and compensation; salary is influenced by role, experience, and internal equity. Equal Opportunity Employer Equal Opportunity Employer

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