Fellow/Senior Fellow

Center for a New American Security•Washington, DC

1d•$140,000 - $260,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is hiring a Fellow / Senior Fellow to lead research on how computing power can be monitored, allocated, and controlled to advance U.S. national security. The role works with the Program Director to set the direction of the team’s compute research, examining AI hardware, data centers, cloud computing, chip supply chains, and related policy issues. The Fellow develops actionable insights and recommendations for national security policymakers, anticipates emerging issues, and represents CNAS in Washington and beyond. The position is part of CNAS’s Technology and National Security Program and the cross-cutting CNAS AI Policy Lab. The role includes leading a research agenda and producing policy analysis; briefing and engaging government, industry, allied, media, and research audiences; convening events; supervising and mentoring an AI Policy Associate / AI Policy Researcher; and contributing to strategy and fundraising. This is a full-time, in-person position based in Washington, D.C., reporting to the Program Director. It is a three-year, term-limited appointment. Candidates may start as soon as available. Compensation is $140,000–$260,000, depending on qualifications and experience. CNAS offers medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D, short- and long-term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, 403(b) retirement accounts, transportation subsidies, and an employee assistance program.

Requirements

Advanced degree in a relevant field or equivalent professional experience.
Extensive knowledge of AI compute policy and underlying technology, including AI hardware, semiconductor supply chains, data centers and cloud computing, and export controls.
Excellent writing skills and ability to write fluently, clearly, and concisely for policymakers.
Relevant national security experience in the executive branch, Congress, the intelligence community, an FFRDC, or a national security-focused research organization.
Knowledge of U.S. national security policymaking processes, including interagency decision-making, export control development and implementation, and legislative processes.
Published analysis or policy work that has informed decision-makers across government or industry.
Demonstrated ability to brief senior policymakers and engage with media, translating complex technical issues into actionable insights.
Experience leading projects and managing or mentoring staff.
Excellent judgment about the quality of data and competing information sources.
Legal right to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on engineering experience is welcome but not required.
Government experience working directly on export controls, compute policy, semiconductor policy, or emerging technology issues.
Education or full-time work experience in a technical or quantitative field, such as engineering, physics, computer science, or economics.
Familiarity with industry perspectives through work or engagement with technology, semiconductor, cloud computing, or AI companies.
Knowledge of China’s semiconductor and AI ecosystems, and allied policy approaches to compute and export controls in countries such as Japan, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Taiwan.
Experience with fundraising and/or grant management.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead a research agenda on compute and national security, covering export controls, AI chip supply chains, data center and cloud infrastructure, on-chip governance mechanisms, and global compute partnerships.
Lead the development and scoping of research ideas in response to changes in compute, AI capabilities, or the policy environment.
Author reports, policy briefs, in-depth analysis, and commentaries with actionable recommendations for U.S. policymaking.
Track technical, commercial, and policy developments in AI hardware and compute, including China’s semiconductor ecosystem and allied industrial policy, and prepare succinct briefs for senior policymakers.
Brief senior officials across the executive branch, Congress, and allied governments.
Represent CNAS to government, industry, allied partners, and the research community, and build relationships that keep the program’s work relevant to decision-makers.
Represent CNAS publicly on compute and national security through media interviews, op-eds, podcasts, and public events.
Design and lead private workshops, roundtables, and public events for national security, technology, and research communities.
Supervise and mentor the workstream’s AI Policy Associate / AI Policy Researcher, including setting priorities and supporting professional development and research activities.
Contribute to program strategy and fundraising, including proposal development, funder engagement, and grant reporting.
Collaborate across CNAS programs and the AI Policy Lab to integrate compute and export control issues into broader research on AI and national security.