Earthquake Risk Modeler – Secondary Hazards and 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 and secondary hazards, and their impacts on the built environment, supporting risk assessment activities at different spatial scales. The role may include work on fire following earthquake (FFE), infrastructure disruptions, and other cascading consequences of seismic events, depending on project needs and the candidate’s expertise.

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 hazards and cascading effects, such as fire following earthquake, urban disruption, and infrastructure impacts.
• Contribute to the modelling of exposure and vulnerability of buildings and infrastructure to earthquake-related hazards and post-event consequences.
• Support the integration of secondary hazard components, including FFE, within broader earthquake risk assessment frameworks.
• Perform data processing and analysis of datasets related to building characteristics, urban systems, infrastructure, and hazard occurrence.
• 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 performed by the geo-hazard risk team.

Required Skills 

• An academic degree in civil engineering, fire engineering, engineering seismology, risk engineering, or a related discipline. A PhD degree is an advantage.
• A minimum of 2 years of experience in earthquake engineering, catastrophe risk modelling, fire engineering, or related fields.
• Knowledge of secondary earthquake hazards and post-event risk processes, including fire following earthquake, urban fire dynamics, infrastructure disruption, or related topics, 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 related to urban systems, infrastructure, or geospatial datasets.
• Experience in the use of GIS software (preferably QGIS).
• Experience with catastrophe or risk modelling platforms (e.g., OpenQuake) is an advantage.
• Good communication skills (written and spoken English).
• 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.