AI Safety & Security Researcher

RAND; United States; Hybrid; USD 132,000 - 339,000; Full time

Job summary

RAND’s Center on AI, Security, and Technology (CAST) seeks researchers to advance AI safety foundations. You will perform original research across theoretical CS, cryptography, formal methods, programming languages, security, systems, architecture, or ML systems.

Lead projects from problem formulation to publication, and communicate results through publications, reports, and policy-facing products. This is a three-year appointment with renewal options.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent, original technical research.
• Deep expertise in at least one area such as theoretical computer science, cryptography, formal methods, programming languages, computer security, systems, computer architecture, or machine learning systems.
• Ability to identify and formulate important research problems, showing creativity and initiative in the conception and execution of projects.
• Strong programming or systems-building ability in languages such as Python, Rust, Go, C/C++, or equivalent tools appropriate to the candidate's research area.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex research projects from conception through completion.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, geographically distributed environment.

Responsibilities

• Conduct original research on technically challenging problems at the intersection of AI and security.
• Exercise independent scientific judgment in identifying important questions and leading projects from problem formulation to publication.
• Communicate results through peer‑reviewed publications, technical reports, research artifacts, and policy-facing products.

Skills

Theoretical CS

Cryptography

Formal methods

Programming languages

Systems security

Computer architecture

Distributed systems

ML systems

Education

PhD in CS/EE/Math/Physics

Master’s degree +3 yrs

Bachelor’s degree +5 yrs

Tools

Python

Rust

Go

C/C++

Job description

RAND’s Center on AI, Security, and Technology (CAST) seeks researchers to advance AI safety foundations. You will perform original research across theoretical CS, cryptography, formal methods, programming languages, security, systems, architecture, or ML systems.

Lead projects from problem formulation to publication, and communicate results through publications, reports, and policy-facing products. This is a three-year appointment with renewal options.