---
title: 'Research Assistant, Strategic Engagements at jobs'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/research-assistant-strategic-engagements-jobs-arlington-721ytra3byav'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-07'
---

# Research Assistant, Strategic Engagements at jobs

- **Company:** jobs
- **Location:** Arlington, VA
- **Compensation:** $22–$26
- **Employment:** internship
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-06-26
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-07
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/schmidt-entities/22f04d1f-f840-4b7c-8f6d-47031731748f

## Job description

Founded by Dr. Eric Schmidt, the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) is a 501(c)3 private operating foundation tasked with making recommendations to strengthen America’s long-term global competitiveness for a future where artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies reshape our global strategic environment. The project is organized into three directorates - Global Partnerships, Technology Leadership, and AI Adoption. Each directorate will analyze AI and other emerging technologies, address how these technologies will reshape their field and produce detailed recommendations to ensure that America is organized to win the techno-economic competition. The Research Assistant (RA) for Strategic Engagements is a paid, full-time role designed for students with strong communication skills and high-level organization. Rather than traditional policy research, this position focuses on the programming and operational side of SCSP’s flagship event, the AI+ Expo. RAs will be responsible for speaker curation, creative design, and communication with external partners to ensure clear organization and seamless execution. This role is ideal for students who want to see how national security priorities intersect with the private sector through the lens of public dialogue and event operations. As an RA on the Strategic Engagements team, you will have opportunities to strengthen your skills in public relations, professional writing and logistics

## Responsibilities

- Programming & Content Support: Assist in curating speaker lists, panel topics, and tech demonstrations that align with SCSP’s mission. Help draft compelling session descriptions and event agendas.
- Speaker & VIP Coordination: Serve as a primary point of contact for speaker invitations, collecting bios and headshots, and ensuring a seamless experience for VIP guests.
- Event Communications: Draft and edit external communications, including attendee invitations, event newsletters, promotional copy, social media content, and briefi ng materials for speakers and moderators.
- Project Coordination: Use project management platforms (like Airtable and Google Suite) to track speaker logistics, programming details, and day-of show agendas.
- On-Site Execution: Provide hands-on, on-site support during the Expo, assisting with stage management, speaker coordination, and attendee experience.

## Qualifications

- Education: All undergraduate or graduate majors and concentrations are encouraged to apply.
- Technical Savvy: High proficiency in Google Suite, data organization, and project management software. Proficiency in leveraging and prompting Large Language Models (LLMs).
- Communication: Exceptional professional writing and communication skills for external partner engagement.
- In-Person Requirement: Must be able to work full-time in-person at our Arlington office January through June of 2027.

Desired Skills

- Experience working in a fast-paced office environment with strict deadlines.
- Collaborative mindset and willingness to support the team in varied, fluctuating capacities.
- Operate as a self-starter, bringing fresh ideas to current processes.
- Interest in the intersection of American competitiveness and emerging technology.

This is a non-exempt position.

## About jobs

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Schmidt Futures is a philanthropic initiative that identifies and supports talented individuals and breakthrough ideas at the intersection of technology and science, having transitioned into Schmidt Sciences in 2024.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Non‑profit, part of the Schmidt Entities family managed by Hillspire, LLC)
- **Headquarters**: New York, New York, United States
- **Founded**: 2017 (Schmidt Futures); Schmidt Sciences founded in 2024
- **Founders**: Eric Schmidt and Wendy Schmidt

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Philanthropic grantmaking, scientific research support, talent development.
- **Target customers**: Researchers, scientists, technologists, and social entrepreneurs (B2B / institutional).
- **Mission or purpose statement**: To accelerate scientific knowledge and breakthroughs with advanced tools to support a thriving planet.

## Products & Services
- **Grantmaking & Fellowships**: Programs such as Rise (global talent initiative), the AI and Advanced Computing Institute, and the Schmidt Observatory System.
- **Research Support**: Funding for projects in AI, astrophysics, neuroscience, earth sciences, and other disciplines.
- **Talent Programs**: Initiatives like the Rise fellowship for young leaders and the AI Institute Fellow in Residence.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available (privately funded by the Schmidt family).
- **Key Metric**: Total funding is undisclosed; the organization employs 135 people (‑15.6% YoY) and has funded 491 tracked awards with a field‑weighted citation impact of 3.4.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Eric and Wendy Schmidt (sole funders); partners include academic institutions and research organizations.
- **Growth Signals**: Transitioned from Schmidt Futures into Schmidt Sciences in 2024; headcount declined but remains active in high‑impact science (273 works since 2024). Open positions for space observatory (Lazuli) and AI compute infrastructure indicate expansion in aerospace and AI.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Deep philanthropic resources**: Backed by the Schmidt family’s substantial wealth, enabling long‑term, high‑risk projects.
- **Focus on frontier science**: Concentrates on AI, advanced computing, radio astronomy, and space observatories – areas with high barriers to entry.
- **Network effect**: Access to Schmidt Ocean Institute, The Schmidt Family Foundation, and other entities for cross‑disciplinary collaboration.

## Strategic Focus
- **Current priorities**: Building the next‑generation space observatory (Lazuli), expanding the AI and Advanced Computing Institute, and scaling the Rise talent program.
- **Direction for growth**: Deepening investment in AI infrastructure and scientific computing; hiring for engineering roles in spacecraft GN&C, software systems, and compute infrastructure.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Mission‑driven environment focused on solving fundamental scientific and societal challenges.
- **Remote/Hybrid/Office Policy**: Predominantly on‑site (96% of open roles); some roles in New York, Tucson, Los Angeles, and Bay Area. Hybrid/remote options are limited.
- **Notable Perks**: Competitive salaries (e.g., $140k–$270k for engineering roles), involvement in cutting‑edge space and AI projects, and the opportunity to work alongside leading scientists.
- **Engineering Culture**: Hands‑on, hardware‑focused for space missions; software and AI teams work on high‑performance computing and agent‑based AI.

## Sources
1. [LinkedIn – Schmidt Futures](https://linkedin.com/company/schmidtfutures)
2. [Jobera – Schmidt Entities Careers](https://jobera.com/employer/schmidt-entities/)
3. [Lever Careers – Schmidt Entities](https://jobs.lever.co/schmidt-entities)
4. [Scoutify – Schmidt Entities Overview](https://scoutify.com/companies/schmidt-entities/)

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