Perplexity is AI for people who expect more. More accuracy. More agency. More signal, less noise. Our answer engine handles hundreds of millions of queries every month for people whose questions spark change and whose decisions bend the world toward progress. As our footprint grows, so does the number of policymakers, agencies, and civil society leaders who want to understand what we are building and how we think.
We're hiring a Public Policy Associate in Washington, D.C. to sit at the center of Perplexity's engagement with Congress, the executive branch, trade associations, think tanks, and the broader D.C. ecosystem. This work happens where Washington happens, in Hill offices, in coalition meetings across town, and at the occasional evening event where the conversations that matter most actually take place.
This is a relationship heavy, execution heavy seat.
What you'd do
- Hill experience on judiciary, commerce, intelligence, or AI focused portfolios.
- Experience staffing a principal at a company, agency, or trade association.
- Existing relationships across the AI and tech policy community in D.C.
What they want
- At least 3 years of professional experience, including time on Capitol Hill in a personal office or on a committee is strongly preferred.
- External lobbying experience, either at a government relations or law firm representing clients, or in house at a company. Registered lobbying experience under the Lobbying Disclosure Act is strongly preferred.
- A real Washington network you built yourself, and the instinct to keep growing it.
- Event execution. You can run a 20 person Hill staff briefing or a 150 person reception end to end without anything slipping.
- Strong writing. You can turn a meeting into a two paragraph readout and a briefing book into something a principal will actually use.
- Sound judgment. You know what to escalate, what to handle, and how to represent a company in a room without a script.
- Genuine curiosity about AI policy and the substance of what Perplexity is building. You don't need to be a technologist, but you do need to want to learn.
- Comfort with the pace. Mornings, days, and evenings. This is a role for someone energized by the D.C. schedule.
- Based in Washington, D.C. and in office four days a week, with occasional travel.