Program Lead, National Security

Syntony evaluates, red teams, and helps govern advanced systems, including AI. Our national security work includes evaluation for a public sector institution in the defense ecosystem, AI risk wargames such as CRESCENDO, and exercises and training for teams that need to understand how AI can fail or be misused.

You will set the program’s direction with the founder and work alongside our Head of Red Teaming and Head of Research Strategy and Evaluations, turning Syntony’s methods into work that national security organizations can put to use.

• Develop and run Syntony’s national security program, setting priorities, offerings, and milestones with the founder.
• Build relationships with defense, intelligence, homeland security, and allied government organizations, and with the companies and research institutions that support them.
• Lead proposals and scope evaluation, red teaming, wargaming, and training engagements.
• Help design and facilitate AI risk wargames and exercises, including CRESCENDO.
• Translate technical findings into briefings and recommendations for senior national security audiences.
• Track policy, acquisition, and threat developments that affect how national security organizations adopt and assure AI.
• Represent Syntony at briefings, conferences, and working groups, and contribute to our research and publications.

• 7+ years in national security, defense, intelligence, or a closely related policy or research field.
• Working knowledge of AI and emerging technology and how they create risk and opportunity in national security settings.
• Experience with government clients or programs, including business development, proposals, or program management.
• Ability to brief senior leaders clearly and to write for technical and policy audiences alike.
• Comfort working through ambiguity at an early-stage company and building a program from a small base.
• U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain a security clearance.

An active or prior clearance is useful, as is experience designing wargames or exercises. We assess demonstrated work and judgment; a graduate degree is not required.

This role can be part-time or full-time. Syntony is scaling, so we will shape the role around your availability and what the work needs. We will agree a weekly commitment and scope before you start and revisit them as the company grows.

The role comes with generous cash compensation and equity, which we will discuss in the initial interview. Final terms will be agreed in writing before work begins.

U.S. citizenship is required because this role covers defense and national security work that calls for eligibility for a U.S. security clearance. The position is remote.

The role also comes with a generous startup benefits package, including a monthly health and wellbeing stipend, WiFi and phone reimbursement, travel and commuter benefits, a monthly compute budget, and coworking privileges. Read more about our culture and benefits.