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Principal Researcher for AI Risk Management

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Job at a glance

Category: Risk
Work arrangement: On-site
Location: Multiple Locations
Salary range: $118,675 to $197,200
Posted: Aug 23, 2026

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National Institute of Standards and Technology is hiring a Principal Researcher for AI Risk Management in Multiple Locations. This is a Risk job in the governance, risk, and compliance field, with a posted range of $118,675 to $197,200. Review the full details below and apply directly with National Institute of Standards and Technology.

NIST is seeking an AI risk management expert to drive national leadership in trustworthy AI technology. You will maintain NIST's AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF), develop related ITL guidelines such as the AI RMF Playbook, and foster community engagement to promote widespread AI RMF adoption and help others manage AI risk across sectors. This notice is issued under direct-hire authority to recruit new talent to occupations for which NIST has a severe shortage of candidates. Qualifications: For the Computer Scientist ZP-1550 Basic Requirements: Bachelor's degree in computer science or bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of the 30 semester hours must have included any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus. All academic degrees and coursework must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions. For the ZP-1550-IV: In addition to the above basic requirements, applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the GS-12 level (ZP-III at NIST). The specialized experience is defined as: Experience conducting technical research or development work to study or implement artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools. Experience drafting technical papers, guidelines, or standards intended to guide a broad community of AI/ML practitioners regarding best practices for applying AI/ML and managing AI/ML risk, either from a computational or behavioral and social sciences perspective. Experience serving as a technical representative or coordinator in multi-stakeholder or interagency technology-related fora, such as working groups or standards committees. For the ZP-1550-V: In addition to the above basic requirements, applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the GS-14 level (ZP-IV at NIST). The specialized experience is defined as: Experience conducting technical research or development work to study or implement artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools. Experience formulating, leading, or managing complex computer science projects or technology policy initiatives of considerable scope and impact related to AI/ML. Experience developing and authoring technical papers, guidelines, or standards intended to guide a broad community of AI/ML practitioners regarding best practices for applying AI/ML and managing AI/ML risk, leveraging either computational

Full responsibilities and requirements are on National Institute of Standards and Technology's application page.

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Location and market context

This job is based in Multiple Locations on-site. Local candidates benefit from being close to National Institute of Standards and Technology's teams and regional hiring market. Confirm the exact in-office expectation and any relocation support with the employer.

About risk management jobs

Risk jobs own the methodology for identifying, assessing, and escalating enterprise, operational, and technology risk. Second-line teams set risk appetite and challenge the first line. Jobs like this one are typically evaluated against frameworks such as enterprise and operational risk frameworks, NIST AI RMF, and risk-appetite and escalation practices.

How to position yourself for this risk management job

Strong candidates emphasize risk assessment methodology, appetite and escalation, cross-functional partnership, and clear reporting to senior leadership and the board. In your resume and outreach, tie your experience to how National Institute of Standards and Technology would apply enterprise and operational risk frameworks, NIST AI RMF, and risk-appetite and escalation practices, and lead with concrete outcomes rather than duties.