Senior Research Lead – AI Security Portfolio (Fully Remote)

RAND; United States; Remote; USD 130,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Savings plan

Paid time off

Job summary

RAND seeks a Senior Program Lead to shape and advance its research on secure AI systems in the United States. You will define priorities, coordinate across multiple teams and programs, and ensure delivery of high-impact results.

You will mentor senior technical staff and project leaders, manage a portfolio of 15-30 researchers, and oversee complex budgets while collaborating with operations, policy and cybersecurity teams. RAND offers strong benefits and a mission-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Technical experience in AI security or cybersecurity engineering required.
• Experience leading large multidisciplinary technical or research programs with budgets.
• Deep understanding of AI threat models and system vulnerabilities.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive RAND's research agenda on secure AI systems, establishing priorities across 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 15-30 people.

Skills

AI security

Cybersecurity engineering

Program leadership

Job description

• 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.

Qualifications:

• Technical experience in AI security, cybersecurity engineering, or adjacent emerging technology fields required.
• Demonstrated success leading large technical or research programs, including managing multidisciplinary teams and budgets.
• Deep understanding of AI threat models, system vulnerabilities, and cyber capability evaluation.

Benefits and Culture:

• RAND provides strong benefits including health insurance, life and disability insurance, savings plan, and paid time-off.
• RAND emphasizes a collegial environment that respects contributions and dignity of all staff, with a commitment to equal opportunity employment.

RAND

RAND is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges to make communities safer and more secure. It has approximately 1,750 employees across offices in the US, Europe, and Australia, with a collegial environment that values objectivity, integrity, and diverse perspectives.