Open Source Research Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Job Type:
Term (Fixed Term)
About the Team
The RAND Center on AI, Security, and Technology's mission is to understand and address emerging threats to global security, in particular biosecurity and AI security. We believe that biotechnology and frontier AI will be among the most powerful and transformative technologies of the coming decades, and that addressing the risks that accompany them is one of today's most pressing challenges. Our work focuses on understanding these threats and developing concrete solutions to counter them, from technical analysis through to engagement with the stakeholders positioned to act. RAND is an independent non-profit, but regularly engages with senior stakeholders within the USG, allied governments, and relevant industry stakeholders.
About the Role
We are looking for an Open Source Research Resident to use online information to investigate and monitor emerging threats at the intersection of AI, biosecurity, and national security. You will build and maintain a picture of the actors, capabilities, and trends that matter most, and turn open-source signals into intelligence that drives concrete action.
Depending on your background and interests, your work could span areas such as:

• Following developments in Chinese AI, compute, and the semiconductor supply chain

• Tracking scientific and technical progress in high-consequence areas of biology, including emerging research directions such as mirror-life

• Monitoring for early signs of AI loss of control, including indicators of misalignment, deceptive or power-seeking behavior, and failures of human oversight in frontier systems

• Mapping technology and talent flows between the US and China

• Analyzing Chinese progress in biosecurity and the life sciences

Day to day, you will run investigations across a wide range of open and commercial sources, track technical and scientific developments, map organizations and talent networks, and produce clear, decision-ready assessments for both internal teams and external government and industry partners.
Qualifications:
All research 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.
This is a hands-on role, and we are looking for someone with an operator's mindset who is comfortable owning investigations end-to-end and following a thread wherever it leads. You might be especially well suited to the role if you are strongly motivated by mission-driven work, have a track record of rigorous open-source analysis in a fast-paced environment, and bring experience spanning national security, technology, and foreign-actor tracking. Strong candidates will combine sharp analytic tradecraft with sound judgment about source reliability and significance, and be comfortable working across ambiguity on novel questions.
We expect strong candidates to have around 5 years or more of relevant experience, although we are open to excellent candidates with less experience if they have a track record of high-quality open-source investigation and the ability to adapt quickly to new questions and challenges.
Familiarity with AI or the life sciences are strong pluses, though not required.
Education and Experience Requirements:
RAND is hiring for multiple Open Source Research Residents across three possible internal job families; those being the Technical Resident, Biosecurity Resident, and AI Policy Resident profiles. For each profile, we're open to candidates at the Associate, Specialist, or Expert levels of experience.
The minimum education requirements at the Associate level are as follows:
A minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field is required.
Relevant fields include:
Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics, Artificial Intelligence, Biology, Biostatistics, Business, Chemistry, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Engineering and Public Policy, Engineering Physics, Epidemiology, Geology, Health Services Management, Information Security, Information Technology, International Relations, Law, Machine Learning, Mathematics, National Security Policy, Natural and Physical Sciences, Philosophy, Physics, Policy Analysis, Political Science, Public Administration, Public Health, Public Policy, Security Studies, Statistics, Technology and Policy, Technical Discipline, or similar.
Minimum experience requirements for an Associate Biosecurity Resident or Associate AI Policy Resident are:
A PhD in a relevant field.
OR
A Master's degree in the fields listed above with at least 3 years of relevant professional experience.
OR
A Bachelor's degree in the fields listed above with at least 5 years of relevant professional experience.
Minimum education and experience requirements for a Technical Resident, Associate I are:
A Bachelor's degree 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 AND 1 year AI-focused real-world experience.
Security Clearance:
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance, which includes having U.S. citizenship, is preferred but not required. Hired applicants will have the opportunity to maintain their clearance through RAND.
Location:
This is a US-based remote role, but we may be open to other locations for excellent candidates. RAND has offices in Washington, DC; San Francisco, CA; Boston, MA; Santa Monica, CA; and Pittsburgh, PA. We offer a hybrid work arrangement combining work from home and on-site options, and will also consider fully remote.
Term:
This position is a 3-year term appointment with a possibility of renewal, alongside options for longer term employment.
Salary Range: $90,400 - $274,300
This range extends from our minimum at the Associate I level up to the top of our Expert level.
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