Senior Technologist or Senior Policy Researcher, AI Governance Lab

Center for Democracy & Technology•Washington, DC

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Technologist or Senior Policy Researcher is a senior role within the Center for Democracy & Technology’s AI Governance Lab. The position helps shape and execute the Lab’s agenda for the responsible design, testing, monitoring, and regulation of AI systems. The successful candidate will lead original projects and initiatives, contribute to writing and public speaking, and help establish norms and requirements for AI governance. The candidate’s portfolio will reflect their expertise and interests alongside the needs of the broader team. Depending on experience and organizational needs, the role may include managing junior staff, researchers, or fellows. The AI Governance Lab develops and promotes technically informed solutions for effective AI governance. Its work includes developing and advancing governance practices; advocating for responsible solutions through multistakeholder initiatives, company engagement, and standards development; advising policymakers; supporting public-interest advocates; connecting researchers with policy debates; tracking and explaining AI developments; and grounding research and policy in the needs of affected stakeholders and the contexts in which AI is used. The position is full-time, though CDT is open to a term-limited fellowship for appropriate candidates. It is based in CDT’s Washington, D.C. office, with a hybrid schedule of three days in the office per week, generally Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. A different hybrid schedule may be considered in exceptional cases and is available as a disability accommodation. Exceptional candidates based outside Washington, D.C. may also be considered.

Requirements

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.
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 the impacts of technology 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 in meetings with government officials, industry, coalition partners, public events, and the press.

Nice To Haves

Ability to translate technical information and related policy implications for non-technical or non-expert audiences is particularly valued.
Interest or experience in AI-enabled surveillance and other civil-liberties concerns; national-security applications of AI and their civil-liberties impacts; civil-rights considerations in governing frontier AI; fairness and civil-rights implications of AI systems; or third-party auditing and evaluation of AI systems is particularly encouraged.
Research management experience is a plus.
Interest in both technical and sociotechnical approaches to AI risk assessment and mitigation; applicants with either technical or policy research experience are welcome.
Experience developing, analyzing, and/or implementing practical guidance for responsible AI system development and deployment.

Responsibilities

Shape and execute the AI Governance Lab’s agenda related to the responsible design, testing, monitoring, and regulation of AI systems.
Structure and lead original research projects, projects, and initiatives related to AI governance.
Write and speak publicly on 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 engagement with companies, and technical standards development processes.
Collaborate with CDT policy teams to advise policymakers on legislative and regulatory approaches to AI that protect civil rights and civil liberties at the federal and state levels.
Provide technical and operational expertise to civil rights organizations, consumer protection organizations, and other public-interest advocates working on AI issues.
Build bridges between the research community and policy debates, particularly concerning technical developments and their societal implications.
Track developments in AI research, development, and adoption, and communicate them to internal and external policy audiences.
Ground AI research and policy in the needs of impacted stakeholder groups and the contexts in which AI is used.
Depending on team and organizational needs and the candidate’s experience, potentially manage junior staff, researchers, or fellows.
Potentially work on topics including AI auditing ecosystems; transparency practices such as system cards and model disclosures; policy proposals for general-purpose and frontier AI; foundation-model risks and downstream applications; fairness and nondiscrimination; and surveillance reform and national-security oversight.

Benefits

100% covered health care, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents
Flexible spending and dependent care accounts
Life insurance
Short-term and long-term disability insurance
403(b) retirement account, with CDT contributing up to 6% of salary following a year of employment
13 company holidays
Office closure between Christmas and New Year’s
Paid vacation: 15 days per year, increasing with tenure
Sick days
Parental leave