Job Description

Principal Researcher – Technology & Security-Adjacent Systems

Remote · Freelance · Competitive Retainer

About SMCO

Straits Meridian Capital Office (SMCO) is a research-driven capital platform. We operate at the intersection of capital, systems, and long-horizon structural change. We do not follow market narratives. We read the structures beneath them.

What that means in practice: We are not a trading desk. We do not chase short-term volatility. Our decisions are informed by deep, structural research across technology ecosystems, regulatory frameworks, and the security environments that shape their development. Your analysis will directly inform investment decisions — not sit on a shelf.

We are a lean team. No bureaucracy. No revenue targets driving your work. Just research, rigour, and conviction.

The Role

We are looking for an analyst who understands the intersection of technology, regulation, and national systems. You will research emerging technologies — cybersecurity, AI platforms, sensing and automation, semiconductor ecosystems — and the policy and security environments that shape their development and adoption across East Asia, Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe.

This is a  remote, freelance engagement with a competitive monthly retainer and long-term potential. You will work directly with our research team, producing analysis that shapes capital allocation decisions across technology-adjacent domains.

What You'll Do — Day to Day

Your typical week might include:

• Technology policy research: Monitoring regulatory frameworks, industrial strategy, and government incentives affecting critical technology sectors across your coverage regions
• Competitive dynamics analysis: Analysing semiconductor supply chains, AI infrastructure deployment, data systems architecture, and the competitive positioning of key technology firms
• Trade & security assessment: Assessing how export controls, investment screening, standards-setting, and strategic competition affect technology markets and supply chains
• Technology governance: Tracking developments in AI governance, cybersecurity regulation, and data localisation requirements
• Report writing: Producing structured, decision-grade analytical reports — typically 2–4 per month — that translate complex technical and policy information into clear investment implications

The work is independent but not isolated. You will have access to our research team for discussion, review, and debate. You will be expected to bring your own hypotheses, defend them with evidence, and revise them when the facts change.

Who You Are — Core Competencies

We are looking for someone who brings:

• Strong understanding of technology policy, cybersecurity, or semiconductor/electronics industries — you understand how technology sectors are governed, regulated, and contested
• Familiarity with export controls, trade regulations, and technology governance frameworks — you can navigate the intersection of commerce and national security
• Ability to interpret technical documents, policy papers, regulatory proposals, and industry roadmaps, and translate them into commercial and investment insights
• Comfort with ambiguity and cross-disciplinary analysis — technology policy sits at the intersection of engineering, economics, law, and geopolitics. You should be comfortable moving between these domains
• Strong written English and analytical discipline — you can produce clear, structured, decision-ready prose

Experience required: 2+ years in a relevant analytical or research role. Exceptions may be made for exceptional candidates with strong institutional backgrounds.

Preferred Backgrounds

We are particularly interested in candidates whose professional experience has been shaped by one or more of the following environments:

• Technology policy or regulatory analysis in government, research institutions, or international organisations
• Corporate strategy, market intelligence, or government affairs in semiconductor, cybersecurity, or AI sectors
• Defense or security-adjacent policy roles with a technology focus
• Journalism or research covering technology, trade, or industrial policy
• Engineering or computer science backgrounds with policy or analytical orientation

Institutional affinity: We are especially interested in candidates whose work has been shaped by settings such as RAND Corporation, CSIS, Atlantic Council, MITRE, DARPA, NIST, or equivalent technology policy or research institutions.

Why SMCO

Here is what you can expect from working with us:

• Your work directly informs capital deployment — not quarterly earnings reports, not marketing materials, not internal presentations that go nowhere
• Research-first culture, no revenue targets — you are evaluated on analytical rigour, not sales performance
• Fully remote, flexible arrangement — work from wherever you are most productive
• Competitive monthly retainer with long-term engagement potential for the right candidate
• No micromanagement — we trust you to deliver, and we evaluate you on output, not hours

How You'll Be Evaluated

We measure performance on three criteria:

1. Analytical rigour — are your arguments well-supported? Do you consider counterarguments? Can you distinguish signal from noise?
2. Writing quality — is your analysis clear, structured, and decision-ready? Can a busy reader grasp your core argument in 30 seconds?
3. Timeliness — do you deliver on schedule? When deadlines are tight, do you prioritise effectively?

How to Apply

Please submit your CV. While not required, we welcome examples of past analytical work — reports, briefings, or assessments — if you have them. Relevant professional insights can also be discussed during the interview process.

We will only consider candidates who meet the core competency requirements. If you are unsure whether you qualify, please read the requirements carefully before applying.

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