Senior Technologist or Senior Policy Researcher, AI Governance Lab
About The Position
The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) seeks a Senior Technologist or Senior Policy Researcher with expertise in artificial intelligence governance to help shape and execute the AI Governance Lab’s agenda for the responsible design, testing, monitoring, and regulation of AI systems. The role leads original projects and contributes to writing and public speaking on AI governance issues across the public and private sectors. Potential areas of focus include AI auditing, transparency practices such as system cards and model disclosures, policy proposals for general-purpose and frontier AI, foundation-model risk and downstream applications, fairness and nondiscrimination, surveillance reform, and national-security oversight. The candidate’s portfolio will reflect their expertise and interests as well as broader team needs. The AI Governance Lab develops and promotes technically informed solutions for AI governance. Its work includes developing and amplifying best practices; advocating through multistakeholder initiatives, company engagement, and technical standards processes; advising policymakers; supporting public-interest advocates; connecting researchers with policy debates; tracking and communicating AI developments; and grounding research and policy in affected stakeholders’ needs and use contexts. The successful candidate will lead projects and initiatives as part of a fast-paced, collaborative team. Depending on the candidate’s experience and organizational needs, the role may include managing junior staff, researchers, or fellows. CDT is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that advances civil rights and civil liberties in the digital age. It engages policymakers, companies, multistakeholder processes, and standards bodies; conducts research; litigates through amicus briefs; and raises public awareness about technology’s effects on democracy and social inequality. The position is based in CDT’s Washington, D.C. office, with a hybrid schedule of three in-office days per week. Exceptional candidates outside Washington, D.C. may also be considered. The position is full-time, though a term-limited fellowship may be considered for appropriate candidates.
Requirements
- An advanced degree or commensurate practical experience in a relevant discipline such as computer science, information science, engineering, economics, or public policy.
- Extensive demonstrated experience related to AI research, development, and/or governance, through technical or sociotechnical research, AI policy work, or relevant industry or government experience.
- Ability to translate technical information and related policy implications for non-technical or non-expert audiences.
- Familiarity with the AI governance landscape, including debates about AI system and foundation-model evaluation, risk assessment and management, and emerging regulatory frameworks.
- Demonstrated interest and experience in technology’s impacts on democracy, civil rights, and civil liberties.
- Excellent writing skills for technical, policy, and general audiences.
- Ability to represent and serve as a spokesperson for CDT with government officials, industry, coalition partners, at public events, and with the press.
Nice To Haves
- Experience or interest related to AI-enabled surveillance and other civil-liberties concerns, national-security applications of AI, civil-rights considerations in frontier AI governance, fairness implications of AI systems, or third-party AI auditing and evaluation.
- Research management experience.
Responsibilities
- Structure and lead original AI governance projects and initiatives.
- Write and speak publicly about issues central to AI governance in the public and private sectors.
- Develop, analyze, prototype, and amplify best practices for AI governance.
- Advocate for responsible AI governance solutions through multistakeholder initiatives, direct company engagement, and technical standards development.
- Collaborate with CDT policy teams to advise policymakers on legislative and regulatory approaches that protect civil rights and civil liberties.
- Provide technical and operational expertise to civil rights, consumer protection, and other public-interest advocates working on AI issues.
- Build bridges between the research community and policy debates, including communicating technical developments and their societal implications.
- Track AI research, development, and adoption trends and communicate them to internal and external policy audiences.
- Ground AI research and policy in the needs of impacted stakeholder groups and the relevant use context.
- Depending on experience and organizational needs, potentially manage junior staff, researchers, or fellows.
- Represent CDT in meetings with government officials, industry, coalition partners, public events, and the press.
Benefits
- 100% covered health care for employees and dependents
- Dental coverage
- Vision coverage
- Flexible spending and dependent care accounts
- Life insurance
- Short-term and long-term disability insurance
- 403(b) retirement account, with CDT contributions of up to 6% of salary following a year of employment
- 13 company holidays
- Office closure between Christmas and New Year’s
- Paid vacation, starting at 15 days per year and increasing with tenure
- Sick days
- Parental leave
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
