Application Guide

How to Apply for Technical Specialist, AI Safety

at Cedar Research

🏢 About Cedar Research

Cedar Research is a mission-driven research organization focused exclusively on investigating and demonstrating catastrophic risks from advanced AI systems, including mass surveillance and loss-of-control scenarios. Unlike many AI safety orgs that focus on alignment theory or policy, Cedar emphasizes technical investigation, coding, and public publication of findings—making it ideal for engineers who want to directly expose and mitigate real-world AI threats.

About This Role

As a Technical Specialist in AI Safety, you'll conduct hands-on technical research and engineering to uncover AI-enabled threats, such as vulnerabilities in the data-broker industry that AI amplifies. You'll write code, use AI-assisted development tools like Claude Code or Codex, and publish research papers that inform the public and drive change. This role is impactful because your work directly contributes to preventing AI-driven catastrophes and shaping safer AI development.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve writing code to analyze data-broker vulnerabilities, using Claude Code to accelerate development, and drafting a section of a research paper. You'd collaborate with a small team of researchers, brainstorm new threat vectors, and possibly publish findings or engage with the community to raise awareness about AI risks.

🚀 Application Tools

Generate Cover Letter

AI-powered, tailored for Cedar Research

Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Cedar Research Is Looking For

  • Strong AI engineering background with hands-on experience building or analyzing AI systems, including proficiency with AI-assisted coding tools like Claude Code or Codex.
  • Demonstrated focus on AI safety, such as prior research, projects, or publications on catastrophic risks, mass surveillance, or loss-of-control scenarios.
  • Ability to conduct independent technical research and communicate findings clearly through code and written papers.
  • Bonus: An existing public platform or audience (e.g., blog, Twitter, GitHub) where you've discussed AI safety or technical topics.

📝 Tips for Applying to Cedar Research

1

Highlight specific projects where you used AI-assisted development tools (Claude Code, Codex, etc.) and explain how they accelerated your research or engineering.

2

Showcase any public writing or code related to AI safety—link to papers, blog posts, or repositories that demonstrate your focus on catastrophic risks.

3

Tailor your resume to emphasize technical investigation and publication, not just engineering execution; include research outcomes and their impact.

4

In your cover letter, propose a concrete research idea related to data-broker vulnerabilities or AI-enabled surveillance that you could pursue at Cedar Research.

5

If you have a public audience, mention it and how you'd use it to amplify Cedar's research findings to a broader community.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your specific experience with AI-assisted development tools and how you've used them for safety-related research or engineering.", 'A clear demonstration of your commitment to AI safety, including any prior work on catastrophic risks or related threats.', 'Your ability to independently drive technical research from hypothesis to publication, with examples of past findings.', "A concrete idea for research you'd like to conduct at Cedar, such as investigating AI-amplified data-broker vulnerabilities or loss-of-control scenarios."]

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read Cedar Research's published papers and blog posts to understand their research style, focus areas, and past findings.
  • → Investigate the data-broker industry and known vulnerabilities that AI could amplify, so you can speak concretely about potential research directions.
  • → Explore recent AI safety incidents or research on loss-of-control scenarios to familiarize yourself with current debates and gaps.
  • → Check the backgrounds of Cedar Research team members to understand their expertise and how your skills might complement them.
Visit Cedar Research's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How you would approach investigating AI-enabled mass surveillance through data-broker vulnerabilities, including technical methods and potential findings.
2 Your experience with AI-assisted coding tools like Claude Code or Codex, and how you integrate them into your research workflow.
3 A deep dive into a past AI safety project: what you did, what you found, and how you communicated it.
4 Your understanding of loss-of-control scenarios and how technical research can help mitigate them.
5 How you would publish and disseminate research findings to maximize impact, including using any public platform you have.
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on general AI safety interest without demonstrating technical depth or specific knowledge of catastrophic risks.
  • Failing to mention AI-assisted development tools like Claude Code or Codex, which are explicitly required for this role.
  • Submitting a generic application that doesn't connect your skills to Cedar's specific research areas, such as data-broker vulnerabilities or mass surveillance.

📅 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 Cedar Research!

← Back to Job Listing Apply Now →