Senior Research Lead - AI Security Portfolio

RAND Corporation; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 167,300 - 261,400; Full time

Job summary

RAND's Center on AI, Security, and Technology (CAST) seeks a Senior Research Lead to steer the AI security portfolio, overseeing two major research teams of 15+ researchers. You will shape priorities across technical AI security research, cyber capability evaluation, and infrastructure development while aligning work with U.S.

national security goals. You will report to the CAST Founding Director and mentor senior staff, translating technical findings for policymakers and regulators, and

Qualifications

• AI security and cybersecurity engineering experience.
• Experience leading large technical or research programs.
• Design and deliver complex projects from concept to completion.
• Deep understanding of AI threat models, system vulnerabilities and evaluation.
• Strong ability to communicate technical issues to senior non-technical stakeholders.
• Familiarity with U.S. cybersecurity policy processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Define RAND's research agenda on secure AI systems.
• Lead cross-functional projects integrating R&D, cybersecurity operations, and policy analysis.
• Mentor and manage senior technical staff and researchers.
• Translate technical findings into actionable insights for policymakers and regulators.
• Oversee development of AI-specific threat models, security architectures and evaluation tools.
• Engage with senior government and industry stakeholders to inform decisions.
• Represent RAND at technical and policy forums and expert panels.

Skills

AI security

Cybersecurity engineering

Technical leadership

Project management

Policy analysis

Education

PhD + 6+ years experience

Master's + 9+ years experience

Bachelor's + 12+ years experience

Job description

Job Type: Term (Fixed Term)

Overview

RAND's Center on AI, Security, and Technology (CAST), part of the Global and Emerging Risks (GER) Division, is seeking a technical and strategic leader to serve as Senior Research Lead - AI Security Portfolio.

CAST 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.

In this senior leadership role, you will oversee a large research and engineering portfolio focused on securing advanced AI systems, understanding their cyber capabilities, and informing the policy frameworks that govern them.

You will report to CAST Founding Director, Sella Nevo, and lead two major research teams composed of 15+ researchers and engaged in projects that span technical AI security research, cyber capability evaluation, and infrastructure development. Your work will guide RAND's broader efforts to ensure AI technologies are safe, secure, and aligned with U.S. and allied national security priorities.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive RAND's research agenda on secure AI systems, establishing priorities across multiple teams and programs.
• Lead complex, cross‑functional projects integrating technical R&D, cybersecurity operations, and policy analysis.
• Mentor and manage senior technical staff, project leaders, and researchers across a portfolio of 15-30 people.
• Translate technical findings into actionable insights for policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders.
• Oversee development of AI‑specific threat models, security architectures, and evaluation tools that assess cyber risks and resilience.
• Engage directly with senior government and industry stakeholders to ensure RAND's research informs decisions at the highest levels.
• Represent RAND at technical and policy forums, including national security working groups, agency briefings, and expert panels.

Qualifications

All research leadership 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:

• Technical experience in AI security, cybersecurity engineering, or adjacent emerging technology fields.
• Demonstrated success leading large technical or research programs, including managing multidisciplinary teams and budgets.
• Proven experience designing and delivering complex projects from concept through completion.
• Deep understanding of AI threat models, system vulnerabilities, and cyber capability evaluation.
• Strong ability to communicate complex technical issues to senior non‑technical stakeholders.
• Familiarity with U.S. cybersecurity policy processes and agencies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred:

• Background in leadership at frontier AI labs, startups, or hyper‑scalers.
• Background in AI or cybersecurity R&D, red team operations, or advanced persistent threat (APT) defense.
• Experience developing or overseeing secure infrastructure for AI model training and deployment.
• Familiarity with AI/ML hardware and software stacks (e.g., GPUs, TPUs, CUDA, PyTorch, TensorFlow).
• Experience working in or with government on AI or cybersecurity policy.
• Graduate of CNODP, RIOT, FORGE, or equivalent elite technical program.

Education Requirements

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 is required, with 6+ years of professional experience.

OR

Master's degree in the fields listed above with 9+ years of professional experience, is required.

OR

Bachelor's degree in the fields listed above with 12+ years of 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 within the US 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

$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