DC‑Based AI Policy Researcher: Compute Governance

Center for a New American Security (CNAS); Washington, Baltimore (District of Columbia, MD); On-site; USD 70,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision insurance

Disability insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Transit subsidies

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Center for a New American Security (CNAS) seeks an AI Policy Associate / AI Policy Researcher to study how computing power can be monitored, allocated, and controlled to advance U.S. national security.

You’ll work with a senior fellow on AI compute, data centers, cloud computing, and chip supply chains. You’ll join CNAS’s Technology and National Security Program and CNAS AI Policy Lab, contributing to rigorous research, policy memos, and briefings for policymakers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher.
• 2–3 years of full‑time, relevant work experience for the AI Policy Researcher level.
• Working familiarity with AI hardware, semiconductors, data centers, cloud computing, or export controls.
• Excellent writing skills, including self‑editing and fact checking.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with an ability to juggle multiple projects.
• Legal right to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Conduct timely, technically rigorous research and analysis of AI, compute, and national security issues for U.S. policymakers.
• Maintain and deepen understanding of AI compute trends, chip supply chains, data centers, export controls.
• Translate technical research into policy memos, briefs, and reports for policymakers.
• Identify emerging policy questions and opportunities for high‑impact research.
• Meet with and brief U.S. policy officials on developments in AI compute and governance.
• Build and maintain relationships across the AI policy community and stakeholders.
• Organize private workshops, briefings, and public events as needed.
• Organize domestic and international field research to support the team.

Skills

AI hardware & semiconductors

Data centers & cloud computing

Export controls knowledge

Excellent writing skills

Legal right to work in the United St a

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher

Job description

Center for a New American Security (CNAS) seeks an AI Policy Associate / AI Policy Researcher to study how computing power can be monitored, allocated, and controlled to advance U.S. national security.

You’ll work with a senior fellow on AI compute, data centers, cloud computing, and chip supply chains. You’ll join CNAS’s Technology and National Security Program and CNAS AI Policy Lab, contributing to rigorous research, policy memos, and briefings for policymakers.