SRI Education is committed to bringing rigorous research and evaluation data to bear on important education policy and practice decisions that ultimately benefit practitioners, students, and families. We are seeking a principal education researcher to join our Digital Learning and Technology Policy team. This researcher will lead projects and proposals focused on the design and use of digital technologies and AI to contribute to educator and student outcomes, the development of novel technologies for the education sector, and leadership at the human-technology intersection in educational settings.  

We consider a diverse variety of candidates for this and every role within SRI Education. We value collaborative, enthusiastic, and innovative team players who are, in this case, committed to building the next generation of educational technologies and measuring their impact on the world. With this opportunity, we describe the skills we believe would be most likely have resulted in a successful career developing educational technologies. We recognize your path may look different, and we will consider other paths that lead to a leadership role in edtech development. If you have any questions about the qualifications for the role, please contact Marlo Hughen, Sr. Technical Recruiter at Marlo.Hughen@SRI.com. 

This position can be 100% remote from our offices, but we do have offices in Menlo Park, CA and Arlington, VA if there is a preference for in-office work as well.

• Lead large, complex research projects or product development contributing to the responsible and ethical use of digital technologies to further educational goals and outcomes 

• Lead or co-lead the development of proposals and support business development/lead generation efforts within the Digital Learning and Technology Policy team to achieve team and center goals 

• Serve as a collaborator and thought partner for the Education Division on the responsible, ethical, and efficacious applications of technology in ways that seek to alleviate and address educational inequities 

• Mentor and collaborate with colleagues to grow internal capacity and expertise for the design and development of novel technologies for educational impact 

• Grow professionally and develop new skills through ongoing collegial support and professional development opportunities, including supporting other leaders and mentoring junior researchers on projects 

• Provide intellectual leadership to project teams on the use of AI in education and edtech to support learning, assessment, and use of education data 

• Collaborate with SRI’s technology teams, including AI researchers, to develop and research new technologies for educational outcomes 

• Manage and deliver high-quality, on-time, and on-budget grant and contract deliverables that meet the intended purpose of the client
• Write reports, policy papers, and articles for clients, policymakers, and practitioners; publish in peer-reviewed journals; and present study findings to relevant audiences 

• Doctorate in education, human computer interaction, or a relevant discipline or comparable background with 5 years of experience OR a master’s degree in a relevant field with 8 years of experience  

• At least 3 years of research or product design experience, including at least 2 years as a principal investigator, co-principal investigator, project director, or product lead 

• Experience with design and execution of research involving digital technologies including digital technology design and prototyping, within-technology data collection including qualitative and quantitative methods, A/B testing, and analysis of such data 

• Experience with addressing issues of practice, policy, ethics, and equity with technology use in K–16 education 

• Strong conceptual and analytic skills  

• Ability to communicate clearly about research and project activities verbally and in writing, with consideration of both technical and nontechnical audiences  

• A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion both in research and in the workplace  

• Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems, meet deadlines, and understand and support client or program officer needs  

Candidates with the following qualifications preferred, but not necessary to apply:  

• Known as an expert in the field (e.g., participates on the board of journals and in program committees for conferences, invited to write or review special issues or speak at edtech conferences) 

• Experience leading work inclusive of technical teams that leverages AI to improve learning, assessment, or using data for decision-making  

• Successful business and client development, including a track record of winning large ($1M+) competitive grants or contracts 

• Familiarity with state and federal regulations regarding privacy for edtech products 

• Familiarity with accessibility guidelines and consideration for edtech products 

The salary range is: $130,000 - $160,000/yr. Salary ranges will vary and are based on several factors, including geographic location, market competitiveness and equity amongst internal employees in similar roles. Positions may also qualify for SRI's Pay for Outstanding Performance program or the annual Performance Based Compensation program.

SRI also has a competitive benefits package, to view details please go to https://www.sri.com/resources/benefits/. SRI is an independent nonprofit research institute headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif., with a rich history of supporting government and industry. We create and deliver world-changing solutions for a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future. For more than 75 years, we have collaborated across technical and scientific disciplines to discover and develop groundbreaking products and technologies and bring innovations and ideas to the marketplace.