Research Lead - AI Cyber Testing & Evaluation

RAND Corporation; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 146,200 - 261,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Opportunities for renewal and longer‑t

Competitive benefits

Job summary

RAND Corporation seeks a Research Lead to oversee major AI security research programs within CAST, part of GER. You will manage budgets, guide multidisciplinary teams of researchers, engineers, and policy analysts, and develop benchmarks evaluating AI model security and attack-resilience across complex scenarios.

The role emphasizes leadership, rigorous threat modeling, and collaboration with government partners.

Qualifications

• 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.
• Experience with red team operations or offensive cyber capabilities development.
• 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 work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.
• Fluency with MS Office suite.

Responsibilities

• Manage significant research budgets and personnel, overseeing complex technical research and policy analysis projects.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams of policy researchers, engineers, and scientists.
• Build systems to evaluate how AI models perform across the full attack lifecycle.
• Develop benchmarks for autonomous operations using scaffolding and tools.
• Communicate findings through detailed technical analyses and quick-turnaround policy briefs.
• Inform analysis delivered to senior government and industry leaders.

Skills

Security engineering

Software engineering

Team leadership

Budget management

Project management

Python/Java/C/C++

Threat modeling

English communication

Collaboration

MS Office

Education

PhD in Computer Science or related field

Master's degree

Bachelor's degree

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Job Type

Term (Fixed Term)

Position Description

RAND's Center on AI, Security, and Technology (CAST), part of the Global and Emerging Risks (GER) Division 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.

You will be responsible for managing significant research budgets and personnel, overseeing complex technical research and policy analysis projects, and leading multidisciplinary teams of policy researchers, engineers, and scientists. Your team will build systems to evaluate how AI models perform across the full attack lifecycle, including resource development, initial access, discovery, lateral movement, and defense evasion.

Your projects may include developing benchmarks for fully autonomous operations using scaffolding and tools, as well as uplift of both novice and expert humans. Such benchmarks may involve environments like CTF challenges, frameworks for assessing ability to reason over attack graphs and conduct multi‑stage operations, assessment of stealth and defense evasion capabilities, and benchmarks for ability to conduct time‑sensitive operations at machine speed.

Many of your evaluations will be commissioned directly by relevant government agencies, and the results of your evaluations will drive responsible AI policy across the world. Your team will communicate findings through detailed technical analyses, evaluation frameworks, and quick‑turnaround policy briefs. Your work will inform analysis delivered to senior government and industry leaders.

This position is structured as a two‑year appointment with options to renew and explore opportunities for longer‑term employment at RAND thereafter.

RAND's reputation for excellence is built on our commitment to high‑quality, rigorous analysis and objectivity. As a Research Lead - AI Cyber Testing & Evaluation, you'll maintain that excellence while engaging with some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

Qualifications

All research positions at RAND require excellent analytic skills; the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, 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.

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

• Experience with red team operations or offensive cyber capabilities development

• 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 work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment

• Fluency with MS Office suite

Preferred:

• Graduate of the Computer Network Operations Development Program (CNODP), Remote Interactive Operator Training (RIOT), Future Operator Readiness Growth and Enrichment (FORGE), or equivalent experience

• Understanding of advanced persistent threat (APT) tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) and experience with defending against them

• Ability to think creatively about offensive and/or defensive techniques and strategies, beyond compliance with existing regulations

• Experience working on AI research, ML model training, or model deployment

Education Requirements

RAND is hiring a Research Lead at either the specialist or expert level of experience. 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 is required.

OR

A Master's degree in the fields listed above with at least 6 years of relevant professional experience, is required.

OR

A Bachelor's degree in the fields listed above with at least 8 years of relevant professional experience, is required.

Master's or PhD 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 San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC; Santa Monica, CA; Pittsburgh, PA; and Boston, MA. We offer a hybrid work arrangement, combining work from home and on‑site options. Fully remote work will also be considered.

Writing or Code Sample

Either a writing sample or a code sample is required for this position. This sample can use a recent, previously written paper or technical report (e.g., journal article, master's thesis or paper written for coursework, research project, technical analysis, briefings), or source code showing technical expertise in relevant domains.

Term

This position is a 3‑year term appointment with a possibility of renewal, alongside options for longer term employment.

Salary Range

Salary Range: $146,200 - $261,400

Visiting Technical Specialist = $$146,200 - $211,900

Visiting Technical Expert = $167,300 - $261,400

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 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