AI Science Advisor roles in AI policy, safety, and governance (full-time limited-term) California Council on Science and Technology in United States

CCST is advertising two AI Science Advisor roles in California: one placed at the California Department of Technology and one at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES). These are senior, full-time, limited-term positions running from May 2026 to June 2027, with a possible extension depending on funding and programmatic need.

The roles sit at the intersection of computer science, information technology, AI policy, AI governance, AI safety, AI transparency, AI accountability, cybersecurity, and public-sector decision-making. The CDT role focuses on AI adoption, governance, safety, transparency, and implementation of California AI safety legislation. The CalOES role emphasizes critical safety incident reporting, risk assessment, cybersecurity, and support for emergency services and critical infrastructure.

CCST describes these as the most senior embedded technical expert roles in state government. The advisors will work closely with state leaders, technical experts, academic researchers, and community stakeholders to provide evidence-based advice, synthesize scientific literature, support report writing, and help coordinate cross-sector AI governance efforts.

Eligibility highlights: a PhD in an AI-related discipline or equivalent experience is preferred; candidates should have deep cross-cutting expertise in frontier AI, foundation models, risk management, standards, monitoring, and mitigation. The post also asks for at least 10 years of professional experience in technology or cybersecurity, preferably with at least 2 years specific to AI, plus strong communication, diplomacy, and public-policy experience. Applicants should be willing to serve full-time for at least one year and, for the CalOES role, travel to Sacramento regularly.

Funding: salary is expected to be $190,000–$220,000+ annually depending on experience, with travel reimbursements covered for regular Sacramento travel. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled, so timely submission is encouraged.