Careers

Rational Futures was founded to help society allocate resources intelligently and make decisions for the betterment of all. We have decades of experience conducting evidence-based analyses of markets, operations, and complex architectures across advanced technology sectors. Our company works with multiple clients across industry and government. 

To match the growing demand for our services, we are looking for someone with the ambition and character to build with us into whatever the future holds. Our benefits, culture, and compensation are designed to attract and develop the sharpest and most creative researchers.

Rational Futures seeks a senior researcher to join our team. We want a curious, kind, and deeply self-motivated person who knows how to manage extremely complex analytic efforts for clients across multiple disciplinary fields.

You will conduct rigorous research on applied topics. Clients come to us with difficult questions, often ones that no other group has been able to answer. You will pursue your own thinking and research methods to answer questions and contribute to the collective effort. We gather our own data and continuously test its suitability through quantitative modeling, validation and verification, and open discourse. Your role is to participate in these activities with us as an independent thinker.

Our team has deep economics, aerospace, and business expertise. We combine our knowledge to estimate how markets and technologies may evolve into the future. As a Senior Researcher, this will involve building models that capture important technical and economic details of emerging technologies that other analysts miss. We aim to adapt to the requirements of any topic in the space domain, and technology more broadly, by learning rapidly and exchanging ideas clearly. 

Travel is not expected, but openness helps. This is the fifth seat at the table, and it carries substantial weight. You will engage daily with the Partner team and hold project responsibilities on par with Managing Partners. While this is a senior role, personal growth is a continuous expectation here, and we invest in our people for the long haul.

Analytic Capability. We seek candidates with demonstrated technical knowledge in fields like engineering and economics, quantitative maturity, and practical experience with conducting or leading analyses of techno-economic topics. We have found that people with PhD training or interested in pursuing quantitative research specializations tend to be well-suited to the rigor we expect. 

Writing. Our primary outputs are written products. The research team is prohibited from using AI-generated text in client-facing products. You must be able to fully own and convey your ideas in writing, and be comfortable writing technical analyses for non-specialist audiences.

Character. We seek a researcher who is genuine, reliable, and transparent. You demonstrate outstanding personal judgment, interpersonal skill, and communication. You are level-headed, respectful, and always solution-focused.

Client Focus. You are comfortable communicating openly and honestly with clients, managing their feedback, and keeping projects on track. You will juggle multiple client engagements simultaneously; this is a heavily outward-facing role. Business development is not your primary function, but you understand that strong client relationships generate new opportunities, and that we reward those results.

Purposeful Exploration. We analyze and discuss problems that our clients believe to be nearly impossible to solve. To help them make decisions requires someone who is comfortable exploring unconventional ideas, revisiting preconceived notions, and having robust intellectual discourse. You are excited to be part of a team where people think with rather than at each other, maintaining a candid and collegial atmosphere.

Generalist at Heart. We work on any topic with which our sponsors or the broader community needs help. For now, our work is focused on space topics; however, we hope to expand into other deep technology areas. Ideally, you will have a demonstrated interest in a wide variety of topic areas.

Work Eligibility. U.S. work eligibility required. Security clearance eligibility preferred but not required.

$120,000 – $170,000 annually, plus incentive packages described below.

We assess compensation based on a combination of factors, including experience and location of work. 

Rational Futures is an S-Corporation and does not currently offer stock, options, or other ownership rights. We may, at our sole discretion, pursue alternate corporate structures that allow for employee ownership, including spinoff companies, as we grow.

We believe that people perform their best when they are well taken care of. We offer the following competitive benefits:

• Health & Dental 
• Preventative Health 
• Transit 
• Life Insurance 
• Personal Leave 
• Parental Leave 
• Continuing Education
• Work Site Flexibility

You are expected to contribute to business growth through client engagement. We reward that work through performance and profit based bonuses. Put together, these have the potential to substantially increase your yearly salary. 

Profit Based Incentive. Based on yearly profit thresholds and individual performance, you are eligible for a profit share of up to 50% of your annual salary, pro-rated from your start date. Bonuses are issued as taxable income following completion of the probationary period, with accrual beginning from day one of employment.

Rational Futures is an equal opportunity employer committed to building an inclusive environment for all. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We encourage applications from all qualified people.

Rational Futures exercises a six-month probationary period with all new employees to evaluate performance and fit.

Submit a resume or CV of no more than three pages. It should include clear, directly attributable examples of work completed at the level described above.

Alongside your resume, include a one-page written statement detailing your personal and specific interest in Rational Futures, our culture, and the work we do. Statements that speak to your interests, ambitions for our organization, and your vision for the future will be viewed especially favorably. We love a good narrative.

Finally, please provide an artifact that demonstrates your research capability and writing. This may include a journal article, conference paper, or other piece of analytic writing. We do not require you to be the first author on academic papers, but you must clearly highlight your specific contributions and the language that you wrote. Please limit submissions to 5 mb. 

Submit your materials to [email protected] by June 5, 2026.