Application Guide

How to Apply for AI Security Resident

at RAND Corporation

🏢 About RAND Corporation

RAND Corporation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit research institution that has shaped U.S. policy for over 75 years, from nuclear strategy to social welfare. Unlike tech companies, RAND offers a mission-driven environment where your AI security research directly informs government and industry decision-makers. Working here means collaborating with top minds across disciplines to tackle some of the most pressing security challenges of our time.

About This Role

As an AI Security Resident, you'll lead cutting-edge research projects that define how we understand and mitigate threats to AI systems. You'll develop novel threat models, build evaluation tools, and translate technical findings into actionable policy recommendations for senior leaders. This three-year residency is a rare opportunity to blend deep technical work with high-level impact, all while mentoring a cross-functional team.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day might start with a team stand-up to align on project milestones, followed by deep work developing a threat model or evaluation tool. Later, you'll brief a government stakeholder on your findings, then mentor a junior researcher on their analysis. You'll end by drafting a section of a policy report, ensuring your technical insights are accessible to non-expert audiences.

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🎯 Who RAND Corporation Is Looking For

  • Deep technical expertise in security, software, or firmware engineering, with proficiency in Python, Java, C/C++, or similar languages.
  • Proven track record of leading complex, cross-functional projects from conception to completion, including budget management and team mentorship.
  • Ability to reason about policy implications of technical choices and communicate effectively with government and industry stakeholders.
  • Experience in threat modeling, cyber capability evaluation, or AI-specific security research, with a passion for bridging technical and policy domains.

📝 Tips for Applying to RAND Corporation

1

Tailor your resume to highlight leadership in security research projects—quantify budgets managed, team sizes, and outcomes.

2

Include a cover letter that explicitly connects your technical work to policy impact, referencing RAND's mission and recent AI security publications.

3

Showcase any experience working with government agencies or policy audiences, even if indirect (e.g., briefings, reports).

4

Use your application to demonstrate cross-disciplinary thinking—mention collaborations with non-technical stakeholders or policy experts.

5

If you have publications or public writing on AI security, include links; RAND values thought leadership that reaches beyond academia.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your vision for AI security research and how it aligns with RAND's role in informing policy.", 'Specific examples of leading technical projects that required both deep expertise and cross-functional coordination.', 'Your ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear implications for policy and decision-makers.', 'Why you want to work at a nonprofit think tank rather than a traditional tech company, emphasizing mission alignment.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read RAND's recent reports on AI, cybersecurity, and emerging technology to understand their research style and current priorities.
  • → Explore RAND's organizational structure and funding sources to grasp how projects are initiated and sustained.
  • → Look into the backgrounds of RAND's AI security researchers and their published work to identify potential collaborators or mentors.
  • → Understand RAND's client base (e.g., Department of Defense, DHS, private foundations) and how their needs shape research agendas.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach developing a threat model for a novel AI system? Walk us through your methodology.
2 Describe a time you led a project that required balancing technical rigor with policy considerations. What was the outcome?
3 What are the most critical AI security R&D gaps today, and how would you prioritize them?
4 How do you communicate technical findings to non-technical government or industry leaders? Provide an example.
5 Given RAND's nonpartisan stance, how would you ensure your research remains objective and credible across political spectra?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on technical skills without demonstrating how your work informs policy or decision-making.
  • Underestimating the importance of project leadership and budget management—this role requires more than just coding.
  • Submitting a generic application that doesn't reflect RAND's unique nonprofit, nonpartisan research environment.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to RAND Corporation!

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