Senior Editor
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Nov 9, 2026. First seen by Alion on Sep 22, 2026.
The Atlantic is hiring a senior editor to join the newsroom’s Science and Health team. This editor will oversee staff writers and work closely with the team’s other editors to produce stories that lead the national conversation about the politics of science and health. This position will be instrumental in shaping our coverage of the people and institutions that influence the direction of science in America, and the resulting effects on how we live and what we know. Topics this role may focus on include scientific misinformation, AI in science, policy and regulation battles, academic conflicts, and medical breakthroughs.
The ideal candidate should be fluent in what’s happening inside the White House, Congress, and federal agencies, and have a deep interest in the ways those dramas reverberate across the country. This person must be adept at assigning magazine stories of the highest standard that speak to a wide audience; narrative sophistication and a passion for big ideas both are essential. This position will at times include night, early-morning, and weekend work.
Other qualifications of the ideal candidate include:
- At least 10 years of experience, with a demonstrated ability to define the conversation around issues of national importance
- Strong leadership abilities and experience managing reporters. This person should excel at helping reporters see a story more clearly, pursue their most ambitious instincts, and turn out compelling writing.
- Equal comfort editing fast-breaking scoops, shaping ideas-driven pieces, and overseeing deeply reported projects.
- An unwavering commitment to excellence and an eagerness to work closely with others on the team.
Salary minimum: $105,000; Salary maximum: $200,000
This position is based in Washington, D.C.
About The Atlantic:
The Atlantic has, for more than 160 years, advanced ideas that matter and sparked global conversation on the most important issues of our time. We aim to bring clarity and original thinking to questions of consequence, on topics ranging from politics, the economy, and global affairs to technology, science, and culture. As the third-longest-runningmagazine in America, we find ourselves at a remarkable moment: one of both continuation and transformation, of upholding our legacy while continuously reinventing ourselves for the future.
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The Atlantic Monthly Group LLC ("The Atlantic") is an Equal Opportunity Employer.The Atlantic is committed to diversity and encourages members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, LGBTQ people, people of color, and people with disabilities.We do not discriminate against our applicants because of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law.
Job offers to work at The Atlantic are contingent upon the candidate’s successful completion of reference checks and compliance with The Atlantic's COVID-19 vaccination policy. The Atlantic requires all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, including subsequent boosters, and submit proof of vaccination status. Employees who cannot receive the vaccine because of a disability/medical contraindication or sincerely-held religious belief may request an accommodation (e.g., an exemption) to this requirement.