Founder's Associate

Refractal is an AI security company building the infrastructure organisations need to defend against autonomous AI threats. 2026 has shown that generally capable intelligence is here. The challenge now is modernising security to stop AI-enabled threats, whether they come from internal agents going rogue or from attackers using AI to become more dangerous.

Refractal was founded on cybersecurity and AI expertise from MIT, Microsoft, NASA and the U.S. Navy. Our product lets organisations detect AI-enabled threats at low cost without sacrificing detection quality. We take a practical approach to AI risk, combining proven cybersecurity methods with frontier AI security research.

Today, we work with governments and organisations that can't afford to get security wrong. We're backed by leading deep-tech and cybersecurity investors and are growing the team to deliver on this mission.

You'll work directly with Refractal's founders to turn company priorities into well-run projects, bringing analysis, structure and follow-through to commercial, recruiting and operational work. It's a hands-on role for someone who likes moving between research, decisions and execution.

• Scope projects with the founders, define the decision or outcome needed, and establish a practical plan with clear owners, milestones and dependencies.

• Research markets, customers and competitors, combining evidence into concise recommendations that help the team decide where to focus its time and resources.

• Support commercial execution through account research, opportunity analysis and preparation for important conversations, working closely with the people responsible for those relationships.

• Support agreed recruiting priorities through candidate research, hiring materials and process improvements that help colleagues make timely, well-informed hiring decisions.

• Improve operational workflows where there is a clear business need, then document the approach and establish ownership so improvements last beyond the project.

• You've delivered a set of agreed priority projects, with clear evidence of the decisions enabled, work completed or time saved.

• You've built trust with the founders and colleagues through sound judgement, useful analysis, reliable follow-through and early communication when priorities or assumptions change.

• You've left behind practical processes and documentation that colleagues can use independently, with clear handovers and no unnecessary administrative burden.

• Strong analytical judgement: you can frame an ambiguous question, find relevant evidence and explain a practical recommendation.

• Evidence of taking a project from an unclear starting point through to a useful, completed outcome.

• Clear, concise writing and confident communication with people across different functions.

• Strong organisation, attention to detail and discretion when handling sensitive commercial or people information.

• Comfort changing direction while keeping scope, priorities and commitments explicit.

• Experience working in an early-stage company, consulting, investing or another varied, execution-focused environment.

• Familiarity with commercial research, recruiting projects or operational process improvement.

• An interest in cybersecurity, AI and the organisations that depend on secure technology.

Radical transparency. We believe the best work happens when everyone feels able to give and receive honest, constructive feedback.

Public service. We see AI security as a form of public service. Getting the AI transition right means putting the right infrastructure in place to manage the threats that come with it, and our work helps protect the institutions and services society depends on.

Fail fast. We test ideas early, seek feedback and learn quickly. We experiment rapidly and change course when something isn't working, without compromising on security.

Pragmatism, not dogmatism. We choose approaches based on how well they solve the problem. That means combining established cybersecurity methods with frontier AI research, questioning our assumptions, and changing our minds when the evidence changes.

• Salary: £45,000–£80,000

• Competitive equity to share in Refractal's growth

• Pension contribution

• Private medical and dental cover

• Visa and relocation support