Research Scientist - CAST
Research Scientist - CAST
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Job Description
About the AI Security Institute
The AI Security Institute is the largest team in a government dedicated to understanding AI capabilities and risks in the world.
Our mission is to equip governments with an empirical understanding of the safety of advanced AI systems. We conduct research to understand the capabilities and impacts of advanced AI and develop and test risk mitigations. We focus on risks with security implications including the potential of AI to assist with the development of chemical and biological weapons how it can be used to carry out cyber-attacks enable crimes such as fraud and the possibility of loss of control.
The risks from AI are not sci-fi they are urgent. By combining the agility of a tech start-up with the expertise and mission-driven focus of government were building a unique and innovative organisation to prevent AIs harms from impeding its potential.
This role sits outside of the DDaT pay framework given the scope of this role requires in depth technical expertise in frontier AI safety robustness and advanced AI architectures.
We will review applications on an ongoing basis.
ROLE SUMMARY
As a Research Scientist working on the Cyber and Autonomous Systems Team (CAST) you will play a crucial role in driving the teams research work mapping the evolving frontier of AI capabilities and propensities. Your work will inform critical security decisions by UK labs and government focusing on preventing harms from (1) high-impact cybersecurity capabilities and (2) highly capable autonomous systems. You will:
- Build the risk models of how AI capabilities relevant to cyber-attack automation AI R&D rogue deployment) evolve over time and cause harm.
- Integrate empirical data from CASTs evaluation suites (e.g. Replibench agentic tests) into reports for consumption within AISI across government and externally.
- Identify and prioritize the capability trajectories most relevant to policy and risk reduction decision-making.
- Collaborate with CAST evaluations building teams AISIs mobilise teams and external partners (e.g. NCSC) to align modeling outputs with stakeholder needs.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
The ideal candidate will combine deep quantitative expertise with a strong understanding of AI security contexts.
- Exceptional technical insight into frontier AI capabilities and their potential pathways to harm.
- Strong written and verbal communication skillstranslating complex quantitative results for both technical and policy audiences.
- A proactive self-directed work style: you thrive in a fast-moving environment identify data gaps and iterate models to inform decision-makers.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE
We select candidates based on demonstrated experience in the following areas:
- Quantitative risk modeling or threat modeling within cybersecurity autonomous systems or related domains.
- Expertise in statistical probabilistic or simulation-based modeling approaches (such as Bayesian networks Monte Carlo simulation or system dynamics) or hands-on experience with Python and its scientific libraries (numpy pandas scipy)
- Familiarity with AI capability evaluation methods and frontier AI lab safety frameworks
- Strong collaboration skills evidenced by working effectively in multidisciplinary teams and with external organisations.
DESIRED EXPERIENCE
You may be a good fit if you have one or more of the following:
- Prior publications in peer-reviewed conferences or high-profile policy venues on AI risk or security topics.
- Domain expertise in nation-state or non-state actor cyber threats.
- Experience communicating AI capability evaluation results to a range of audiences.
- Masters or PhD in a relevant field (e.g. statistics machine learning computer science) or equivalent professional experience.
- Overseen and shaped research projects and experiments.
Salary & Benefits
We are hiring individuals at all ranges of seniority and experience within this research unit and this advert allows you to apply for any of the roles within this range. Your dedicated talent partner will work with you as you move through our assessment process to explain our internal benchmarking process. The full range of salaries are available below salaries comprise of a base salary technical allowance plusadditional benefitsas detailed on this page.
- Level 3 - Total Package 65000 - 75000inclusiveof a base salary 35720 plus additional technical talent allowance of between 29280 - 39280
- Level 4 - Total Package 85000 - 95000inclusiveof a base salary 42495 plus additional technical talent allowance of between 42505 - 52505
- Level 5 - Total Package 105000 - 115000inclusiveof a base salary 55805 plus additional technical talent allowance of between 49195 - 59195
- Level 6 - Total Package 125000 - 135000inclusiveof a base salary 68770 plus additional technical talent allowance of between 56230 - 66230
- Level 7 - Total Package 145000inclusiveof a base salary 68770 plus additional technical talent allowance of 76230
Additional Information
Internal Fraud Database
The Internal Fraud function of the Fraud Error Debt and Grants Function at the Cabinet Office processes details of civil servants who have been dismissed for committing internal fraud or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned. The Cabinet Office receives the details from participating government organisations of civil servants who have been dismissed or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned for internal fraud. In instances such as this civil servants are then banned for 5 years from further employment in the civil service. The Cabinet Office then processes this data and discloses a limited dataset back to DLUHC as a participating government organisations. DLUHC then carry out the pre employment checks so as to detect instances where known fraudsters are attempting to reapply for roles in the civil service. In this way the policy is ensured and the repetition of internal fraud is prevented. For more information please see -Internal Fraud Register.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check and getbaseline personnel security standard (BPSS)clearancebefore they can be appointed. Additionally there is a strong preference for eligibility forcounter-terrorist check (CTC)clearance. Some roles may require higher levels of clearance and we will state this by exception in the job advertisement.See our vetting charter here.Nationality requirements
We may be able to offer roles to applicant from any nationality or background. As such we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet the standard nationality requirements (opens in a new window).
Working for the Civil Service
Diversity and Inclusion
Employment Type
Full Time
