Senior AI Safety Researcher

Google LLC; Kirkland (WA); On-site; USD 159,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Sick time

Job summary

Google LLC’s AI Safety Protections team in Kirkland, WA is seeking a data-focused scientist to help build safeguards for foundation models and related products. You will analyze trends and effects, turning threat models into evaluations and mitigations, while collaborating with research, model development, and policy teams.

You will translate complex data into actionable insights, mentor junior teammates, and contribute to initiatives across Google’s safety and security ecosystem.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 5 years of data analysis experience.
• 5 years of experience in a data analysis or data science setting.
• Experience in programming languages (e.g., C/C++, Python, Java) and SQL.

Responsibilities

• Develop scalable safety solutions for AI products across Google using ML/AI techniques.
• Apply statistical and data science methods to examine protection measures and identify shortcomings.
• Craft data stories for stakeholders, including senior leadership.
• Provide technical leadership by mentoring junior team members.
• Work with sensitive content or situations relevant to safety and risk mitigation.

Skills

Data analysis

Trend identification

Insight generation

Quantitative methods

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience

Master's or Ph.D. preferred

Tools

SQL

Python

C/C++

Java

Job description

Google Kirkland, WA, USA

X In accordance with Washington state law, we are highlighting our comprehensive benefits package, which is available to all eligible US based employees. Benefits for this role include:

• Health, dental, vision, life, disability insurance
• Retirement Benefits: 401(k) with company match
• Paid Time Off: 20 days of vacation per year, accruing at a rate of 6.15 hours per pay period for the first five years of employment
• Sick Time: 40 hours/year (increased to 69 hours/year for Seattle) including 5 discretionary sick days per instance
• Maternity Leave (Short-Term Disability + Baby Bonding): 28-30 weeks
• Baby Bonding Leave: 18 weeks
• Holidays: 13 paid days per year

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 5 years of experience in data analysis, including identifying trends, generating summary statistics, and drawing insights from quantitative and qualitative data.
• 5 years of experience in a data analysis or data science setting.
• Experience in programming languages (e.g., C/C++, Python, Java) and database languages (e.g., SQL).

Preferred qualifications:

• Master’s or Ph.D. degree in a quantitative discipline (e.g., Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Operations Research etc.).
• Prior experience trust, safety, abuse, or fraud disciplines, especially focused on web security, harmful content moderation, and threat analysis.
• Experience with prompt engineering and fine-tuning LLMs.
• Proficient in developing and deploying machine learning models at scale.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills to effectively communicate with a variety of stakeholders, including executive leadership.

Excellent problem-solving and critical thinking skills with attention to detail in an ever-changing environment.

About the job

The AI Safety Protections team within Trust and Safety develops and implements AI-powered solutions to ensure the safety of foundation models, inclduing Gemini, Nano Banana, Veo, Agents, and Robotics. We work with Google DeepMind as well as downstream products such as enterprise (Vertex AI), on-device applications, and more.

We are a passionate team of data scientists and machine learning experts dedicated to mitigating risks associated with generative AI. As a member of our team, you will have the opportunity to apply the latest advancements in AI, work with teams across the company to develop cutting edge AI solutions, and protect people from real-world harms.

Google's foundation models are getting more capable fast, which can also introduce more severe harms if they're misused or unaligned. We're hiring someone to understand these frontier risks in depth and build safeguards against them.

You will sit between research, model development, and policy. You will turn threat models into evaluations, mitigations, and launch decisions.

Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

US: $159000 - $230000 (USD) + 15% bonus target + equity + benefits

Learn more about benefits at Google .

• Develop scalable safety solutions for AI products across Google by leveraging advanced machine learning and AI techniques.
• Apply statistical and data science methods to thoroughly examine Google's protection measures, uncover potential shortcomings, and develop actionable insights for continuous security enhancement.
• Drive business outcomes by crafting compelling data stories for a variety of stakeholders, including senior leadership.
• Provide technical leadership by fostering growth and ensuring success of junior team members through targeted mentorship and guidance.
• Be exposed to graphic, controversial, or upsetting topics or content as this role works with sensitive content or situations.

Google is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of the users we serve, creating a culture of belonging, and providing an equal employment opportunity regardless of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), expecting or parents-to-be, criminal histories consistent with legal requirements, or any other basis protected by law. See also Google's EEO Policy , Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal , Belonging at Google , and How we hire .

Google is a global company and, in order to facilitate efficient collaboration and communication globally, English proficiency is a requirement for all roles unless stated otherwise in the job posting.