Senior Research Lead, AI Security Portfolio

RAND's Center on AI, Security, and Technology (CAST), part of the Global and Emerging Risks Division, seeks a technical and strategic leader as Senior Research Lead, AI Security Portfolio. CAST conducts cutting-edge research on transformative technologies including artificial intelligence 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 lead two major research teams of 15+ researchers spanning technical AI security research, cyber capability evaluation, and infrastructure development. You will define and drive RAND's research agenda on secure AI systems; lead complex cross-functional projects integrating technical R&D, cybersecurity operations, and policy analysis; mentor and manage senior technical staff 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; and engage directly with senior government and industry stakeholders. Structured as a focused three-year appointment, renewable with options for longer-term employment. Required: technical experience in AI security, cybersecurity engineering, or adjacent emerging technologies; PhD (6+ yrs), Master's (9+ yrs) or Bachelor's (12+ yrs) relevant experience. Salary $167,300-$261,400.