Overview In this role you will serve as the legal lead for RAND's CAST and advise on the intersection of AI, biosecurity and national security. You'll work closely with technical teams to tackle novel, high-stakes challenges, shaping legal strategy where playbooks don't exist. You'll build governance, review agreements, and guide compliance in a fast-moving environment. This position offers autonomy to influence RAND's legal approach to frontier technologies and national security issues.
Compensation / Benefits- health insurance
- life and disability insurance
- savings plan
- paid time-off
- sabbatical pay
- hybrid work environment
Responsibilities- Partner with technical teams to structure programs, set operational guidelines, and address novel legal questions at the national security-technology frontier
- Draft and negotiate government, research, and industry agreements (data-sharing, licenses, NDAs, technology contracts)
- Counsel on technology transactions, including AI, data acquisition/use, and privacy considerations
- Support engagement with U.S. and allied government partners, including handling sensitive/classified information
- Advise on information security matters and support security protocol implementations
- Navigate export controls and cross-jurisdictional issues, including personnel and operational considerations
- Identify legal risks, design internal approval processes, and collaborate with stakeholders to implement solutions
- Direct outside counsel as needed
- Handle special projects as assigned by the General Counsel
- Advising and training on export control/trade compliance (EAR, ITAR) and related regulatory frameworks
- Advising on IP matters, IP strategy, and negotiation of IP provisions in agreements
- Engage in other RAND activities aligned with skills and interests
Key requirements- Minimum nine (9) years of experience as a practicing attorney with technology, emerging tech, or national security-adjacent focus
- Detail-oriented, able to work under pressure and aligned with RAND's mission
- Proven problem-solver who owns work, partners with technical teams, and adapts to new questions
- Ability to provide sound judgment in ambiguous situations
- Collaborative, consensus-building across diverse groups
- Willingness to tackle novel legal issues beyond prior experience
- Ability to prioritize and adapt to unanticipated needs
- Willingness to travel occasionally (U.S.)
- collaborative
- problem-solving
- adaptability
- technology matters in law
- data-use and privacy considerations
- knowledge of export controls (EAR/ITAR)
