Automation Engineer Contract Jobs in Cambridge
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Senior Mobile Automation Engineer (SC Cleared)
Posted 1 day ago by Sanderson Recruitment
Key ResponsibilitiesDefine and implement mobile automation testing strategies.Build, maintain and improve scalable autom...
- Rate £450 per day
- Category Outside
- Work type Remote
- Location London; City of London; East London; Central London; South East London; West London; Canary Wharf; South West London; North London; Greenwich; Stratford
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Lead Automation Engineer (Information Technology) Active SC Clearance is require...
Posted 1 day ago by Infoplus Technologies UK Ltd
DescriptionAs part of this hands-on role, you will conduct and lead automation testing activities to ensure our systems...
- Rate Not specified
- Category Not specified
- Work type Not specified
- Location London, United Kingdom
Test Automation Engineer (SC Cleared) - Leeds/Hybrid - Selenium, Karate, CI/CD,...
Posted 4 days ago by TrinIT Talent Ltd
Job Description:You will be joining a collaborative Agile delivery team, responsible for designing, developing and maint...
- Rate £400 per day
- Category Inside
- Work type Hybrid
- Location Leeds
Senior Test Automation Engineer (SC Cleared) - London/Hybrid - Karate, Eggplant,...
Posted 4 days ago by TrinIT Talent Ltd
Job Description:We are looking for a Senior Test Automation Engineer to lead the delivery of automated testing across a...
- Rate £450 per day
- Category Inside
- Work type Hybrid
- Location London
Infrastructure Operations Engineer, VMWare, Automation, Hybrid
Posted 1 week ago by Sanderson Recruitment Plc
Infrastructure Operations Engineer, VMWare, Automation, HybridHybrid Working - 2 days on siteLong term contractWe're see...
- Rate Not specified
- Category Inside
- Work type Hybrid
- Location Peterborough
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About Our Automation Engineer Contract Roles in Cambridge
What does a automation engineer contractor do?
Automation Engineer contractors are engaged to design, build, and maintain automated systems that improve the efficiency, reliability, and scalability of engineering, manufacturing, and software delivery processes. The term covers two distinct but related domains: industrial automation, which involves the design and implementation of automated machinery, control systems, and robotics within manufacturing and process environments, and software test or process automation, which involves building automated testing frameworks and DevOps pipelines within technology delivery programmes. Contractors are typically brought in for defined automation projects, system upgrades, or to provide specialist expertise that a permanent team does not hold.
Technical skills expected vary significantly by domain. Industrial Automation Engineers need expertise in PLC programming, SCADA systems, robotics integration, and the relevant safety standards for automated machinery, with proficiency in platforms from vendors such as Siemens, Rockwell, or Mitsubishi depending on the client environment. Software and test automation contractors need strong programming skills, typically in Python, Java, or JavaScript, alongside experience with testing frameworks such as Selenium, Playwright, or Cypress, and familiarity with CI/CD tooling. Across both domains, the ability to design automation solutions that are maintainable, well-documented, and capable of being handed over cleanly to permanent teams is consistently valued.
What is the market like for automation engineer contractors?
Automation Engineering contracting is active across both its main domains. Industrial automation demand is being driven by manufacturing investment in productivity improvement, reshoring initiatives, and Industry 4.0 adoption, with particular activity in automotive, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and utilities. Software and test automation demand remains strong within technology and financial services organisations running large agile delivery programmes that require scalable test coverage. Contractors who span both programming ability and process knowledge are in the strongest demand across both segments, as the boundaries between industrial and software automation continue to converge.
What is the contracting market like in Cambridge?
Few UK cities match the specificity of Cambridge's contracting opportunities. The life sciences, biotechnology, and deep technology ecosystem that has grown around the university and its research parks sustains work in scientific computing, bioinformatics, embedded systems, regulatory affairs, and clinical data at a scale and depth concentrated almost nowhere else. Beyond life sciences, telecommunications, chip design, and enterprise software employers broaden the range of engineering and development work available. Employers in Cambridge seek deep domain expertise and pay accordingly: rates for specialist disciplines frequently match or exceed London, though the overall volume of opportunities is smaller and concentrated in a narrower set of sectors. Contractors without a relevant scientific or deep technical background will find the market less accessible than its reputation might suggest.
How much do automation engineer contractors usually earn in Cambridge?
Contract rates for automation engineer roles in Cambridge typically range from £420 to £788 per day, depending on the scope of the role, required expertise, and the delivery expectations of the engagement.
How many automation engineer vacancies in Cambridge are there on Quality Contracts?
Over the past twelve months, we have tracked over 150 automation engineer contract roles across the site, with Cambridge maintaining consistent volume. Data reviewed up to July 2026.