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Special Projects Fellow

Role Overview

We are looking for Special Projects Fellows to join SAFL across five tracks. This is a versatile role for people who want to contribute to the science and practice of trustworthy AI while growing into broader responsibilities. This role is ideally for people with 1 to 3 years of relevant experience, though the right level varies by track, and we will consider exceptional people who fall outside it. You can apply to one track or say you are open to more than one. You will work closely with SAFL leadership and drive a lot of the execution yourself.

Across every track, roughly 20 to 25 percent of your time will go to operations and organisational work, so comfort with hands-on execution and coordination matters whichever track you join. Helping run our physical co-working spaces, the Secure AI Hubs, is a shared responsibility of the fellows.

For people with significant relevant experience, we can also hire for a senior version of this role. We also encourage exceptional people who do not have this experience to apply.

SAFL is in a field that moves quickly. The work is demanding, and we mean that plainly. You will own problems from end to end, often with no clear precedent to follow. Priorities will change as the field changes, and you will need to change with them. Much of what you do will be seen by funders, government partners, and researchers outside the lab, so the standard is high. If you want a role with a fixed scope and a settled routine, this is not that role. If you want to test yourself on hard problems and grow quickly, you will find that here.

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About SAFL

The Secure AI Futures Lab (SAFL) is South Asia's first research and capacity-building lab for navigating powerful AI. SAFL pursues parallel interventions in AI governance and impacts research, expert talent advancement, government engagement, and ecosystem support infrastructure. Our foundational work received support from Schmidt Sciences and the Future of Life Institute, among others.

Tracks

You can apply to one or more of these five tracks.

  • Research and Technical Support. Assist with research activities, including literature reviews, data analysis, and tracking developments in AI safety and governance. Support academic outreach, and help turn technical content into material for different audiences. This track typically needs 1 to 3 years of relevant experience, though we will consider exceptional people who fall outside this.
  • Data Analysis and Engineering. Support quantitative and empirical work at the lab, including gathering, cleaning, and analysing data, and producing clear analysis for research and decisions. This track suits people with a strong economics and mathematics background.
  • Operations and Event Management. Support programs from end to end, including event logistics, vendor coordination, scheduling, and administrative workflows. Help build reusable systems, checklists, and documentation.
  • Communications and Digital Media. Create content for SAFL's digital presence, including blog posts, social media, newsletters, and event material. Manage design assets, and help keep our communication clear and timely. This track needs a design portfolio or similar evidence of your work.
  • Generalist. A flexible role across several functions, based on what the lab needs. This suits people who want broad exposure to operations, research, communications, and stakeholder engagement in the AI safety space.

Key Responsibilities

Whichever track you join, the role has a few things in common.

  • Own your work from start to finish, and drive the execution yourself.
  • Spend roughly 20–25% of your time on operations and organisational work that keeps the lab running.
  • Help run one of our Secure AI Hubs, including the space, the people who use it, and the volunteers who help.
  • Keep clear records and build reusable systems, checklists, and documentation, so others can pick up your work.

Who We're Looking For

The ideal candidate may not have all of these. If you are on the fence, please apply.

Experience and Track Record

  • Relevant experience for your chosen track, whether in research, data analysis, operations, communications, or a mix.
  • A record of owning projects from start to finish and shipping them on time.
  • Comfort working with research groups, academic institutions, or think tanks in India is a plus.

Working Style

  • High agency. You can take a fuzzy goal, work out what needs to happen, and make it real.
  • Reliable when plans change. You can juggle deadlines and tasks without dropping things.
  • Comfortable with ambiguity, since this is a young lab in a fast-moving field.

Good to Have

None of these are required. They will make you stand out.

  • Some exposure to safe and trusted AI, AI governance, or nearby fields, even through reading or side projects.
  • Familiarity with India's AI policy ecosystem, such as MeitY, NITI Aayog, or academic AI labs.

How to Apply

Please read the complete job description before applying. We review applications as they arrive, and we encourage you to apply early using the Apply Now button on this page.

Location

Hybrid. You will start remote for the first month. Eventually, we may require you to be located in one of our Secure AI Hubs, or elsewhere across India.

Type

Full-time fixed-term contractor role, initially for 3 to 6 months, with considerable autonomy. The first month is a probation period. Based on satisfactory or outstanding performance, there are reasonable prospects to renew the contract or to graduate into one of our core full-time roles. You will work closely with SAFL leadership, the team, external collaborators, and partners across different time zones.

Compensation (INR)

₹50,000 to ₹2,00,000 per month. Compensation is all-inclusive and will be based on your prior relevant work and your demonstrated ability to meet the needs of this role. For people with significant relevant experience, we can also hire for a senior version of this role.

Application Process Overview

Our process may change based on our needs, but here is what you can usually expect.

  • Screening application. A short application to check basic fit.
  • Skills test. An unpaid 2-hour work test to assess relevant skills.
  • Video interview (optional). A short automated video interview of about 5–7 minutes to help us understand you.
  • Interviews. 1–2 short interviews. These go both ways. We learn more about you and you learn more about the role and about us.
  • Paid work trial. A paid trial of 2–5 days where you work on real tasks with the team, in person or remote.
  • Final call. A closing conversation before we decide.
  • Reference checks. We will reach out to a couple of your references to wrap things up.

SAFL is committed to building a diverse, curious, and high-integrity team. We welcome applications from people of different backgrounds and career stages.

Questions? Write to us at hiring[AT]secureaifutureslab[DOT]com.

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