AI Offense-Defense Dynamics Lead Researcher

Future of Life Organizations

Contract type

Ongoing

Work mode

Remote

Experience

Lead / principal · Not stated

Level inferred from job title

Job description

Lead research at CARMA to decode the offense-defense dynamics of AI technologies, developing quantitative and qualitative frameworks that analyze whether AI capabilities predominantly protect or threaten society. The role produces actionable insights for developers, evaluators, standards bodies, and policymakers.

At a glance

Work mode: Remote
Pay: USD 125,000 – 200,000 / year

What you'll do

Develop quantitative system dynamics models capturing the interrelationships between technological, social, and institutional factors that influence AI risk landscapes
Design detailed analytical models and simulations to identify critical leverage points where policy interventions could shift offense-defense balances toward safer outcomes
Expand and operationalize our current offense/defense dynamics taxonomy and nascent framework, developing metrics and models to predict whether specific AI system features favor offensive or defensive applications
Build empirically-informed analytical frameworks using documented cases of AI misuse and beneficial deployed uses to validate theoretical models
Research how specific technical characteristics (capabilities breadth/depth, accessibility, adaptability, etc.) interact with sociotechnical contexts to determine offense-defense balances
Build public understanding of offense-defense dynamics through blog posts, articles, conference talks, and media engagement
Create tools and methodologies to assess new AI models upon release for their likely offense-defense implications
Draft evidence-based guidance for AI governance that accounts for complex interdependencies between technological capabilities and deployment contexts
Translate research findings into actionable guidance for key stakeholders including policymakers, AI developers, security professionals, and standards organizations

What we're looking for

A M.Sc. or higher in either Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Criminology, Security Studies, AI Policy, Risk Management, or a related field
Demonstrated experience with complex systems modeling, risk assessment methodologies, or security analysis
Strong understanding of dual-use technologies and the factors that influence whether capabilities favor offensive or defensive applications
Deep understanding of modern AI systems, including large language models, multimodal models, and autonomous agents, with ability to analyze their technical architectures and capability profiles
Ability to develop both qualitative frameworks and quantitative models that capture sociotechnical interactions, and comfort creating semi-quantitative semi-empirical models also grounded in logic
Record of relevant publications or research contributions related to technology risk, governance, or security
Exceptional analytical thinking with ability to identify non-obvious path dependencies and feedback loops in complex systems

Nice to have

PhD in a relevant field
Experience with system dynamics modeling, hypergraph techniques, or other complex network analysis methods
Skills in developing interactive tools or dashboards for risk visualization and communication
Background in interdisciplinary research bridging technical and social science domains
Demonstrated aptitude in top-down techniques and first-principles thinking
Experience with the quantification of qualitative risk factors or developing proxy metrics for complex phenomena
Background in compiling and analyzing incident databases or case studies for pattern recognition
Familiarity with empirical approaches to technology assessment and impact prediction
Knowledge of international relations theory as it applies to technology proliferation dynamics

Benefits

$125,000 - $200,000 a year
Plus good benefits if U.S. employee

Save

About Center for AI Risk Management & Alignment (CARMA)

The Center for AI Risk Management & Alignment (CARMA) works to help society navigate the complex and potentially catastrophic risks arising from increasingly powerful AI systems. We focus on grounding AI risk management in rigorous analysis, developing policy frameworks that squarely address AGI, advancing technical safety approaches, and fostering global perspectives on durable safety. CARMA is a fiscally-sponsored project of Social & Environmental Entrepreneurs, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation.

Mission

To lower the risks to humanity and the biosphere from transformative AI.

Key facts

Fiscally-sponsored project of Social & Environmental Entrepreneurs, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation
This role is 100% remote but requires occasional travel