Senior Research Lead - AI Security Portfolio

Overview Job Type: Term (Fixed Term) RAND’s Center on AI, Security, and Technology (CAST), part of the Global and Emerging Risks (GER) Division, is seeking a technical and strategic leader to serve as Senior Research Lead – AI Security Portfolio. CAST conducts cutting‑edge research on transformative, high‑impact technologies—including artificial intelligence and biotechnology—to shape policies that protect global security and advance the public good. In this senior leadership role, you will oversee a large research and engineering portfolio focused on securing advanced AI systems, understanding their cyber capabilities, and informing the policy frameworks that govern them. You will report to CAST Founding Director, Sella Nevo, and lead two major research teams composed of 15+ researchers and engaged in projects that span technical AI security research, cyber capability evaluation, and infrastructure development. Your work will guide RAND’s broader efforts to ensure AI technologies are safe, secure, and aligned with U.S. and allied national security priorities. As Portfolio Lead, you will: Define and drive RAND’s research agenda on secure AI systems, establishing priorities across multiple teams and programs. Lead complex, cross‑functional projects integrating technical R&D, cybersecurity operations, and policy analysis. Mentor and manage senior technical staff, project leaders, and researchers across a portfolio of 15–30 people. Translate technical findings into actionable insights for policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders. Oversee development of AI‑specific threat models, security architectures, and evaluation tools that assess cyber risks and resilience. Engage directly with senior government and industry stakeholders to ensure RAND’s research informs decisions at the highest levels. Represent RAND at technical and policy forums, including national security working groups, agency briefings, and expert panels. This position is structured as a focused three‑year appointment to accelerate research and provide rigorous analysis that informs evidence‑based policymaking in this rapidly evolving field. Every day of your tenure will count toward achieving ambitious projects in AI security. The appointment may be renewed with options for longer‑term employment at RAND thereafter. As AI Security Portfolio Lead, you will uphold RAND's commitment to high‑quality, rigorous analysis while guiding cutting‑edge research with real‑world policy impact. Qualifications Excellent analytic skills, effective oral and written communication, and ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team. Strong commitment to RAND’s core values of quality and objectivity. Technical experience in AI security, cybersecurity engineering, or adjacent emerging technology fields. Demonstrated success leading large technical or research programs, including managing multidisciplinary teams and budgets. Proven experience designing and delivering complex projects from concept through completion. Deep understanding of AI threat models, system vulnerabilities, and cyber capability evaluation. Strong ability to communicate complex technical issues to senior non‑technical stakeholders. Familiarity with U.S. cybersecurity policy processes and agencies. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Preferred Qualifications Background in leadership at frontier AI labs, startups, or hyper‑scalers. Experience in AI or cybersecurity R&D, red team operations, or advanced persistent threat defense. Experience developing or overseeing secure infrastructure for AI model training and deployment. Familiarity with AI/ML hardware and software stacks (e.g., GPUs, TPUs, CUDA, PyTorch, TensorFlow). Experience working in or with government on AI or cybersecurity policy. Graduate of CNODP, RIOT, FORGE, or an equivalent elite technical program. Education Requirements Ph.D. in a relevant field (e.g., Computer Science, Electrical Engineering) with 6+ years of professional experience. Or Master’s degree with 9+ years of professional experience. Or Bachelor’s degree with 12+ years of professional experience. Master’s or Ph.D. preferred. Security Clearance Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government clearance is preferred but not required. Location We are hiring for this position in SanFrancisco, CA; Washington, DC; SantaMonica, CA; Pittsburgh, PA; and Boston, MA. We offer a hybrid work arrangement combining work from home and on‑site options, and fully remote work within the U.S. will also be considered. Writing or Code Sample Either a writing sample or a code sample is required for this position. The sample can be a recent paper, technical report, journal article, master’s thesis, coursework, research project, briefing, or source code that demonstrates technical expertise in relevant domains. Term This position is a 3‑year term appointment with a possibility of renewal and options for longer‑term employment at RAND. Salary Range $167,300 – $261,400. The range includes base pay plus RAND’s sabbatic pay (additional compensation when vacation is taken). Benefits Health insurance coverage Life and disability insurance Retirement savings plan Paid time‑off and other benefits Equal Opportunity Employer RAND is an equal‑opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Accessibility and Accommodations If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process or to perform essential functions of the position, please contact Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io or via email at View email address on click.appcast.io with the nature of your request and your contact information. #J-18808-Ljbffr RAND Corporation