Climate Science Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Senior Scientist - Hurricane Model Developer, Impact Forecasting

This is a hybrid role with the flexibility to work virtually and from our Boston or Chicago office.

Aon is in the Business of Better Decisions

At Aon, we shape decisions for the better to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world.

United through trust as one inclusive team, we are passionate about helping our colleagues and clients succeed.

What the Role Looks Like

As a Senior Scientist - Hurricane Model Developer, you will contribute to the development of industry-leading catastrophe models used to assess and manage hurricane and tropical cyclone risk. You will apply scientific research, advanced analytics, and quantitative modeling techniques to enhance hazard representation, evaluate climate-related impacts, and support innovative solutions for clients around the world.

Working closely with scientists, engineers, data specialists, and product teams, you will help deliver high-quality modeling capabilities that improve risk insight, decision-making, and resilience planning.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and enhance hurricane and tropical cyclone catastrophe models, including stochastic event generation, wind field modeling, hazard characterization, and parameter estimation.
• Build, maintain, and improve model components used to quantify catastrophe risk and estimate potential insurance losses.
• Prepare, transform, integrate, and analyze large meteorological, geospatial, and insurance datasets to support model development and research initiatives.
• Develop and optimize automated data processing and forecasting workflows that improve the efficiency, scalability, and accuracy of modeling solutions.
• Manage and maintain modeling datasets, ensuring effective data organization, accessibility, documentation, and governance throughout the model development lifecycle.
• Implement data quality controls, validation procedures, and performance testing to ensure reliable and accurate model outputs.
• Incorporate emerging climate science research into catastrophe models to evaluate potential impacts on future hurricane-related losses.
• Utilize Python, SQL, and related analytical tools to support data analysis, model development, and automation efforts.
• Conduct quantitative analyses to identify risk drivers, evaluate uncertainty, and support catastrophe risk management decisions.
• Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to deliver modeling enhancements and research initiatives aligned with business priorities and project timelines.
• Document methodologies, validation results, and research findings through clear technical reports and model documentation.
• Communicate complex scientific concepts and analytical findings effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Stay informed of developments in atmospheric science, climate research, data science, and catastrophe modeling to advance product capabilities and innovation.

Skills and Experience That Will Lead to Success

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Meteorology, Climate Science, Oceanography, Earth Science, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
• Experience developing, analyzing, or enhancing catastrophe models, risk models, or related scientific modeling solutions.
• Strong quantitative analysis and problem-solving skills with experience applying statistical or computational methods to complex datasets.
• Experience programming in Python, MATLAB, R, or similar analytical languages, including developing tools, workflows, or automated analytical solutions.
• Experience collecting, processing, manipulating, and analyzing large datasets to generate actionable insights.
• Experience conducting scientific research and translating findings into practical modeling applications.
• Ability to communicate technical information clearly through reports, documentation, presentations, and stakeholder discussions.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across teams while managing priorities and delivering high-quality work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with hurricane, tropical cyclone, or weather-related catastrophe modeling.
• Experience using SQL to query, manage, and analyze relational datasets.
• Experience with ArcGIS, QGIS, or other geospatial analysis tools.
• Knowledge of climate change impacts on natural catastrophe risk.
• Experience supporting model validation, data quality, or model governance activities. 

For positions in San Francisco and Los Angeles, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction record in accordance with local Fair Chance ordinances.

Aon is not accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms for this position. If you are a search firm, you will not be compensated in any way for your submission of a candidate, even if Aon hires that candidate.

Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

The salary range for this position (intended for U.S. applicants) is $100,000 to $130,000 annually. The actual salary will vary based on applicant’s education, experience, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.  The salary may also be adjusted based on applicant’s geographic location.

This position is eligible to participate in one of Aon’s annual incentive plans to receive an annual discretionary bonus in addition to base salary.  The amount of any bonusvaries and is subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plan.

Aon offers a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and regular part-time colleagues, including, but not limited to: a 401(k) savings plan with employer contributions; an employee stock purchase plan; consideration for long-term incentive awards at Aon’s discretion; medical, dental and vision insurance, various types of leaves of absence, paid time off, including 12 paid holidays throughout the calendar year, 15 days of paid vacation per year, paid sick leave as provided under state and local paid sick leave laws, short-term disability and optional long-term disability, health savings account, health care and dependent care reimbursement accounts, employee and dependent life insurance and supplemental life and AD&D insurance; optional personal insurance policies, adoption assistance, tuition assistance, commuter benefits, and an employee assistance program that includes free counseling sessions.  Eligibility for benefits is governed by the applicable plan documents and policies.

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