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Senior Technical Specialist, AI Risk Assessment

Future of Life InstituteAnywhere (Open Globally)CARMA
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Salary
$140K - $220K USD
Job type
Full-Time, Contract
Work mode
Remote
Posted
5 Jun 2025
Status
Open · checked 7d ago

About this role

Role Overview

The Future of Life Institute is hiring a full-time, contract Senior Technical Specialist for AI Risk Assessment to join the CARMA team on a remote basis. This position is suited for an expert who can conduct original research in AI safety, guide quality assurance, and shape governance frameworks for advanced artificial intelligence systems.

Key Responsibilities

Create techniques to discover threat models and analyze risk pathways covering sociotechnical and societal dimensions.
Model multi-node risk transformation, amplification, and threshold effects moving through social systems.
Design robust technical governance frameworks and assessment methodologies for catastrophic risks, such as loss-of-control scenarios.
Provide tactical and strategic quality control for team research to guarantee technical accuracy and conceptual soundness.
Take ownership of or drive original research projects centered on comprehensive risk management for advanced AI systems.
Work alongside other CARMA teams to blend risk assessment paradigms into broader workstreams.
Help build technical standards and best practices for risk measurement, evaluation, and thresholding of AI systems.
Write persuasive communications regarding prospective AI risk management for important stakeholders.

Requirements

Minimum of 5 years of professional experience working in AI safety, governance, and/or alignment.
Deep understanding of various risk modeling approaches including systems dynamics, causal modeling, and Bayesian networks.
Direct experience dealing with systemic and sociotechnical modeling of risk propagation.
Exceptional analytical thinking capabilities to spot subtle flaws within complex arguments.
Strong verbal and written communication skills tailored for both technical and non-technical audiences.
A proven publication record or equivalent demonstrated expertise in relevant subject areas.
Systems thinking approach backed by independent intellectual rigor.
Demonstrated track record of constructive collaboration within fast-paced, intellectually demanding settings.
High comfort level handling uncertainty and rapidly evolving knowledge landscapes.

Nice to Have

Academic or practical background involving complex systems theory, cybernetics, control theory, multi-scale modeling, or dynamical systems.
Previous work history at policy institutions, technical AI labs, AI safety research organizations, or adjacent risk domains.
Hands-on experience executing quality assurance processes for technical research.
Ability to model nonlinear dynamics, threshold effects, and emergent properties within sociotechnical systems.
Familiarity with international dynamics and power differentials surrounding AI development.
Capability to balance the consideration of both aggregate and acute AI risks.
Experience utilizing semi-quantitative hypergraphs, Bayesian, or causal methods for risk analysis.
Demonstrated creative yet methodical approach toward developing new frameworks.

Skills and Tools

AI safety and alignment frameworks
Causal modeling and Bayesian networks
Systems dynamics and sociotechnical modeling
Technical governance and risk assessment methodologies
Quality assurance leadership for research

Salary and Benefits

Annual Salary: $140,000 to $220,000 USD
Employment Type: Full-Time, Contract

About the Company

The Center for AI Risk Management & Alignment (CARMA) operates as a project of the Future of Life Institute to help society navigate complex and potentially catastrophic risks driven by powerful AI systems. CARMA focuses on grounding risk management in rigorous analysis, advancing technical safety approaches, developing policy frameworks addressing AGI, and fostering global perspectives on durable safety. CARMA is fiscally sponsored by Social & Environmental Entrepreneurs, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should visit the official Future of Life Institute careers page or website to submit their application.

Questions candidates ask

What is the salary range for this role?

The salary range for the Senior Technical Specialist position is $140,000 to $220,000 USD per year.

Is this position remote?

Yes, this position is entirely remote and open globally, though occasional travel is required.

What level of experience is required?

Candidates must have 5 or more years of experience in AI safety, alignment, and/or governance.

What department does this role belong to?

This role is part of the CARMA (Center for AI Risk Management & Alignment) team.

Are visa sponsorships available?

No, visa sponsorships are not available at this time. Candidates outside the U.S. will be engaged as independent contractors due to infrastructure limitations of the fiscal sponsor.

Ready to apply?

The application is on the official Future of Life Institute careers page.

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