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VP, U.S. Policy

CognitionWashington DCGeneral & Administrative
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Salary
Not listed
Job type
Full-time
Posted
30 Jun 2026
Status
Open · checked 8d ago

About this role

Cognition is seeking a talented professional to fill the full-time VP, U.S. Policy position based in Washington, DC. This senior leadership opportunity is ideal for an experienced policy expert who wants to shape government affairs for an applied artificial intelligence lab.

Role Overview

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a core pillar of national security, economic competitiveness, and government operations. Cognition needs a dedicated leader to establish and direct the public policy and government affairs function within the United States. Operating from Washington, DC and reporting directly to the Chief Legal and Global Affairs Officer, this individual will craft comprehensive policy strategies from the ground up without an existing playbook.

Key Responsibilities

Design and execute the complete U.S. policy strategy covering artificial intelligence, national security, federal adoption, and technological competitiveness.
Direct engagement activities with Congress, regulatory bodies, the Executive Branch, and federal agencies through direct advocacy and senior-level support.
Track legislative, geopolitical, and regulatory changes in the United States and global markets, translating them into actionable guidance for company leaders.
Draft critical written materials including white papers, policy positions, public comment letters, and briefing documents.
Act as the external representative for the organization in conferences, policy discussions, industry working groups, and strategic forums.
Collaborate closely with product and engineering teams to integrate regulatory feedback into product development roadmaps while scaling the internal policy department.

Requirements

Ten or more years of professional background in technology policy, public policy, government affairs, or national security.
Prior experience working within the White House, Congress, a federal agency, a national security organization, or a prominent policy institution.
Demonstrated ability to grasp complex artificial intelligence concepts and explain them effectively to technical and non-technical audiences.
Comprehensive knowledge of U.S. government institutions, regulatory frameworks, federal budgeting cycles, and the legislative process.
Established bipartisan network of relationships with regulators, agency leadership, and policymakers alongside a proven history of influencing key stakeholders.

Nice to Have

Experience advising senior technology executives, government officials, or business leaders directly.
Background working on emerging technology policy, defense tech, cybersecurity, or artificial intelligence.
Previous experience building a policy department from scratch or serving as the initial policy hire at a fast-growing technology company.
Familiarity with both private and public sector viewpoints concerning regulation and innovation.

Skills and Tools

Exceptional writing capabilities spanning white papers, strategy memos, and legislative one-pagers.
Strong communication skills to bridge technical engineering concepts with political landscapes.
High-stakes judgment, outcome-focused execution, and political navigation expertise.

About the Company

Cognition operates as an applied artificial intelligence lab dedicated to building end-to-end software agents, notably creating Devin, the world's first AI software engineer. The talent-dense team consists of competitive programmers, former founders, and industry veterans from leading organizations at the cutting edge of artificial intelligence.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should visit the official Cognition careers page to submit their application for this role.

Questions candidates ask

Where is the VP, U.S. Policy position located?

The role is based in Washington, DC.

Who does this position report to?

The VP, U.S. Policy reports directly to the Chief Legal and Global Affairs Officer.

How many years of experience are required for this role?

Candidates must have 10+ years of experience in public policy, government affairs, national security, or technology policy.

What department does this role belong to?

This position sits within the General & Administrative department.

What company is hiring for this position?

Cognition, the maker of Devin, is hiring for this role.

Ready to apply?

The application is on the official Cognition careers page.

Apply on company site