Earthquake Risk Modeler – Geohazard Risk (Pavia, Italy)

About RED
RED (Risk, Engineering and Development) SpA was founded in 2012. It offers a wide range of services in the field of natural and human-induced hazard and risk assessment, with a particular focus on earthquake and weather-related perils. RED counts on 20 employees and collaborators with a Master or PhD degree. It is located in the historical city center of Pavia (Italy). RED has recently joined KatRisk, a leading global provider of catastrophe risk solutions, and is now part of a global enterprise with more than 300 employees worldwide. This offers the opportunity to work within a large international organization at the forefront of hazard and risk modelling.

Overview

RED is looking for a highly motivated earthquake risk modeller to join its geo-hazard risk team. The successful candidate will contribute to the development and application of models related to earthquake-induced hazards and their impacts on the built environment, supporting risk assessment activities at different spatial scales. Depending on the candidate’s background and expertise, the role may include work on ground failure phenomena, site effects, and other secondary earthquake hazards, as well as broader risk modelling activities.

The position offers the opportunity to work within a dynamic, multidisciplinary team and to engage in a variety of geo-hazard modelling activities.

The job is based in Pavia (Italy) with the possibility of hybrid working arrangements.

Responsibilities 

The successful candidate will perform the following tasks, under the supervision of senior team members:

• Support the development and application of earthquake hazard and risk models, including components related to secondary earthquake hazards (e.g., ground deformation, slope instability, liquefaction, site amplification).
• Contribute to the modelling of exposure and vulnerability of buildings and infrastructure to earthquake-related hazards.
• Support the integration of geohazard components within broader earthquake risk assessment frameworks.
• Perform data processing and analysis of geotechnical, geological, geospatial, and seismological datasets relevant to hazard and risk assessment.
• Operate and support the maintenance of existing hazard and risk models.
• Contribute to reporting, technical documentation, and communication activities (internal and external).
• Support the activities carried out by the geo-hazard risk team.

Required Skills

• An academic degree in civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, engineering seismology, geology, earth sciences, or a related discipline. A PhD degree is an advantage.
• A minimum of 2 years of experience in earthquake engineering, geotechnical engineering, geohazard assessment, or related fields.
• Knowledge of earthquake-induced hazards and their impacts on the built environment; expertise in one or more topics such as ground failure, site response, liquefaction, or related geotechnical hazards is an advantage.
• Experience in hazard, exposure, and vulnerability modelling; familiarity with risk assessment frameworks is an advantage.
• Experience in computer programming in the context of engineering or scientific applications.
• Strong mathematical skills, particularly in statistics and probability.
• Experience with data management and processing, especially geotechnical, geological, and geospatial datasets.
• Experience in the use of GIS software (preferably QGIS).
• Experience with earthquake hazard and risk modelling platforms (e.g., OpenQuake) is an advantage.
• Experience working collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams, with the ability to effectively contribute to joint research and development activities.
• Motivation, attention to detail, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Basic knowledge of the insurance industry is an advantage.