The Electronic Frontier Foundation is hiring a new Staff Technologist — this is a geek-in-residence gig, where you get to help lawyers understand the technological implications of legal arguments and vice-versa. There’s opportunities to do cool reverse-engineering projects (like outing the printer companies for sneaking hidden spy-dots into color laser prints), explain software defined radios to FCC apparats and Hollywood execs, attend standards meetings (and get shouted at), and many other nerd sports.
EFF works in that difficult space where law and technology collide. Unlike other nonprofit lawfirms, EFF is known for our technical expertise. Along with our webmaster and sysadmin, EFF’s tech staff includes a couple of technologists who translate technical issues to two major audiences: 1) EFF attorneys, who need to understand the specifics of how technology works in order to do their legal work and 2) the general public, which looks to EFF to explain what’s really going on in non-technical jargon.
The staff technologist job includes being part of litigation teams, writing white papers, attending technical meetings, public speaking, preparing evidence or declarations to be presented to courts, and working with the rest of EFF’s staff. Technical expertise is absolutely required, as is great writing skill and a healthy respect for deadlines. As part of the tech team, the staff technologist will sometimes be asked to pitch in and assist with whatever tech issue happens to be causing a problem at the moment. A willingness to be a team player is a must. The job requires some travel.
(via Vitanova)