Information Scientist (Applied Technology Policy)

RAND Corporation; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 108,000 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

RAND Corporation seeks Information Scientists to join our national security policy research team. You will apply advanced analytics, modeling, and AI-enabled tools to address critical policy challenges and deliver objective insights for policymakers and stakeholders worldwide.

Ideal candidates have strong technical skills, a track record of rigorous research, and the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Experience with DoD War components or related engineered systems.
• Research publication or conference presentation evidence of work.
• Ability to disseminate results using analytically rigorous methods.

Responsibilities

• Examine complex policy problems using modeling, simulations, and AI-enabled tools.
• Apply quantitative and qualitative methods to research projects.
• Interpret results to support stakeholder decision-making.
• Communicate findings to policymakers and the public in writing and presentations.
• Contribute to business development efforts.

Skills

Cybersecurity

AI/ML

Financial technology

Modeling & simulation

Data analysis

Education

PhD/MS/BS in computer science or engineering or information science or cyberengineering or robotics

PhD with 2+ years of relevant experience

Masters with 5+ years of experience

Bachelors with 10 years of experience

Tools

LLM applications

Job description

Job Type: Regular Position Description Are you passionate about using your analytical skills to address critical policy challenges? RAND is seeking talented Information Scientists to join our team and contribute to impactful research in national security policy. RAND researchers contribute to and lead innovative projects that deliver objective, reliable insights for the public and policymakers at multiple levels. They embrace challenges on diverse topics that require strong analytic capabilities, technical knowledge, and academic, industry, or government experience in organizational processes and decision-making.

RAND researchers contribute to and lead innovative projects that deliver objective, reliable insights for the public and policymakers at multiple levels. They embrace challenges on diverse topics that require strong analytic capabilities, technical knowledge, and academic, industry, or government experience in organizational processes and decision-making.

Why RAND?

• Reputation for Excellence: Be part of a non-profit, non-partisan organization renowned for its rigorous and objective research.
• Dynamic Opportunities: Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams on diverse projects that challenge and expand your skills.
• Poised for Impact: Your research will inform thousands of policymakers, clients, and other stakeholders around the world.

Responsibilities

• Examine complex policy problems by developing innovative research approaches such as modeling and simulation and novel artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled tools.
• Execute this research using a broad range of analytically rigorous quantitative and qualitative research tools, methods, and skills.
• Interpret research results to support stakeholder decision‑making.
• Communicate research results to policymakers and the public at all levels through written products and oral presentations.
• Contribute to business development efforts.

Qualifications

Successful applicants will have demonstrated technical or methodological skills, and/or domain knowledge in the technical design, development, testing, application, and/or operation of information, communications, space, automation, or AI/machine learning systems. Relevant skills and knowledge may include:

• Cybersecurity systems implementation, security assurance, vulnerability risk management, or adversarial testing of AI-enabled systems
• Development, deployment, and evaluation of AI-enabled research or decision-support tools, including LLM applications, agentic workflows, or human-in-the-loop analytical systems
• Development, application, or policy analysis of financial technology systems, including digital assets and technology-enabled financial platforms and services
• Development of modeling and simulation approaches for space, autonomous, robotic, or other complex systems
• Analysis of large, complex datasets using data science or machine-learning methods

All research positions at RAND require excellent analytic skills; the ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English, both orally and in writing; the ability to work effectively as a member of a multi‑disciplinary team; and a strong commitment to RAND's core values of quality and objectivity.

Experience

Experience with components of the Department of War is highly desired. Professional or academic experience with a focus on the technical design, development, testing, application, and/or operation of engineered systems are preferred. Successful applicants will be able to present strong evidence of research experience, demonstrated through authorship of academic publications, conference presentations, or prior professional reports. They will also be versatile with multiple research methods.

Education Requirements

• A PhD, MS, or BS in computer science or engineering, information science, cyberengineering, robotics, or related field (such as mathematics, operations research, physical sciences, or closely related discipline) is required.
• A PhD with at least 2 years of relevant professional experience is preferred.
• Applicants with a masters degree must have at least 5 years of professional experience; applicants with a bachelors degree must have at least 10 years of professional experience.
• Professional experience should demonstrate the applicant’s ability to design, execute and disseminate results of research using analytically rigorous methods.

Security Clearance

Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. Please note that U.S. citizenship is required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance. Candidates with an active U.S. security clearance are preferred.

Location

Washington, DC; Santa Monica, CA; Pittsburgh PA

Writing Sample

Required. Successful applications will include documentation in the application package of academic and professional activities that meet stated qualifications. A writing sample of 3 pages or more is required when applying for this position. Applicants are encouraged to use recent research published in academic journals, conference proceedings, or research reports but may use reports or papers written for prior employment. Applicants whose written products have dissemination restrictions (e.g., are classified), may submit a short, written summary (i.e., less than one page) of one or more recent products they have developed. Note that applicants invited to interview will be required to provide a writing sample and present a seminar describing recent research. Writing samples can be redacted or subsequently submitted through restricted channels and the seminar can be held in a classified environment as needed.

Salary Range

• $108,000 - $215,400
• Associate Researcher: $108,000 - $174,000
• Full Researcher: $123,100 - $215,400

RAND considers a variety of factors when formulating an offer, including but not limited to, the specific role and associated responsibilities; a candidate’s work experience, education/training, skills, expertise; and internal equity. Successful candidates will be offered employment as an Associate or Full researcher in a specific title, as determined by the candidate's education and experience. The salary range includes base pay plus RAND’s sabbatic pay (which provides additional compensation above base pay when vacation is taken). In addition, RAND provides strong benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, paid time-off and more.

Equal Opportunity Employer

RAND is a research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous. RAND’s research and analysis address issues that impact people everywhere, including security, health, education, sustainability, growth, and development. RAND has approximately 1,750 people working in offices in the United States, Europe, and Australia, with annual revenues of $470 million. RAND is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and committed to the public interest. Our research is sponsored by government agencies, international organizations, and foundations. We rely on philanthropic support to pursue visionary ideas; address critical problems that are under‑researched; and devise innovative approaches for solving acute, complex, and provocative policy challenges. RAND values objectivity and integrity in both its research processes and internal interactions. We emphasize a collegial environment that respects the contributions and dignity of all staff. RAND's reputation is built on quality and objectivity. RAND provides an exciting intellectual environment and opportunities for career growth with challenging assignments. As collaboration in interdisciplinary teams is an essential operating principle at RAND, we hire highly qualified talent and empower our people to do their best work by fostering a culture in which different views, backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued and respected, and staff have a sense of belonging with their colleagues, fair access to opportunities, and feel comfortable bringing their best selves to work each day. As part of our commitment to Equal Opportunity Employment, we welcome all applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences to apply for this exciting opportunity. RAND is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please contact Human Resources at [phone] or at [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.