Design Contract Jobs in Manchester

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Updating results… 44 Contract jobs sorted by:
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Updating results… 44 Contract jobs

Embedded Software Engineer

Posted 1 day ago by Certain Advantage


World Class Defence Organisation is seeking to recruit two Embedded Software Engineer subcontractors for an initial 12-m...

  • Rate Negotiable
  • Category Inside
  • Work type Onsite
  • Location Manchester, UK

Embedded Software Engineer

Posted 1 day ago by Certain Advantage


World Class Defence Organisation is seeking two Embedded Software Engineer subcontractors for an initial 12-month contra...

  • Rate Negotiable
  • Category Inside
  • Work type Onsite
  • Location Manchester

Pumps Design Engineer

Posted 2 days ago by Morson Edge


The Pumps Design Engineer role involves working for a client in the Nuclear Energy Technology sector, focusing on produc...

  • Rate Negotiable
  • Category Undetermined
  • Work type Undetermined
  • Location Manchester, UK

Pumps Design Engineer

Posted 3 days ago by Morson Edge


The Pumps Design Engineer role involves product development throughout the entire product lifecycle within the Nuclear E...

  • Rate Negotiable
  • Category Undetermined
  • Work type Undetermined
  • Location Manchester

ServiceNow Specialist - Must already hold SC clearance

Posted 3 days ago by Randstad Technologies


The ServiceNow Specialist role requires an individual with active SC clearance and extensive experience in delivering Se...

  • Rate Negotiable
  • Category Inside
  • Work type Hybrid
  • Location Manchester, Lancashire, UK

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User Researcher

Posted 5 days ago by Hays


The User Researcher role involves working primarily remotely for a well-known organization, requiring active SC clearanc...

  • Rate Negotiable
  • Category Inside
  • Work type Remote
  • Location Manchester

Lead Observability & Data Architect/Engineer (SC/DV Cleared)

Posted 5 days ago by GIOS Technology Limited


The role of Lead Observability & Data Architect/Engineer (SC/DV Cleared) involves designing and scaling critical monitor...

  • Rate Negotiable
  • Category Undetermined
  • Work type Hybrid
  • Location Hybrid - London/Reading/Birmingham/Manchester/Glasgow/Liverpool/Newcastle , UK

Power BI Designer/Analytics Consultant; 6 months

Posted 5 days ago by Newtyne


The role of Power BI Designer/Analytics Consultant involves leading the design and delivery of reporting solutions for a...

  • Rate Negotiable
  • Category Inside
  • Work type Hybrid
  • Location Edinburgh, Glasgow or Manchester 2/3 days in office, UK

Service Designer

Posted 5 days ago by Damia Group Ltd


The role of Service Designer requires experienced professionals who are SC Cleared or Clearable, with a focus on deliver...

  • Rate £500 per day
  • Category Outside
  • Work type Remote
  • Location UK; London; Birmingham; Manchester; Glasgow; Liverpool; Leeds; Edinburgh; Bristol; Cardiff; Nottingham

Lead Observability & Data Architect/Engineer (SC/DV Cleared)

Posted 6 days ago by GIOS Technology Limited


The role of Lead Observability & Data Architect/Engineer involves designing and scaling national-critical monitoring fab...

  • Rate Negotiable
  • Category Undetermined
  • Work type Hybrid
  • Location Hybrid - London/Reading/Birmingham/Manchester/Glasgow/Liverpool/Newcastle

Service Transition & Service Design Specialist (ITIL / ITSM)

Posted 6 days ago by GIOS Technology


The Service Transition & Service Design Specialist role focuses on managing the transition of IT services into business-...

  • Rate £47 per hour
  • Category Undetermined
  • Work type Hybrid
  • Location Manchester, England, United Kingdom

Senior Interaction Designer

Posted 6 days ago by HM Revenue & Customs


The Senior Interaction Designer at HMRC will play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality and consistency of interaction...

  • Rate £58,541 per year
  • Category Inside
  • Work type Hybrid
  • Location Manchester, England, United Kingdom

Mechanical Design Engineer

Posted 6 days ago by Ganymede Solutions


The role is for a Contract Mechanical Designer in the water industry, specifically based in Manchester. The position is...

  • Rate Negotiable
  • Category Outside
  • Work type Hybrid
  • Location Manchester, UK

Business Analyst

Posted 6 days ago by Gerrard White


The role of Business Analyst in the insurance sector involves providing consultancy services for a critical transformati...

  • Rate Negotiable
  • Category Outside
  • Work type Hybrid
  • Location Manchester, UK

Embedded Software Engineer

Posted 7 days ago by Certain Advantage


World Class Defence Organisation is seeking to recruit two Embedded Software Engineer subcontractors for an initial 12-m...

  • Rate Negotiable
  • Category Inside
  • Work type Onsite
  • Location Manchester, UK

Embedded Software Engineer

Posted 1 week ago by Certain Advantage


World Class Defence Organisation is seeking to hire 2 Embedded Software Engineer subcontractors for an initial 12-month...

  • Rate Negotiable
  • Category Inside
  • Work type Onsite
  • Location Manchester

Software Engineer (Java Mid)

Posted 1 week ago by Interactive Investor Limited


The Java Software Engineer (Mid-Level) role at interactive investor involves designing, building, and supporting scalabl...

  • Rate £50,000 per year
  • Category Outside
  • Work type Hybrid
  • Location Manchester, Greater Manchester

Service Design & Transition Analyst

Posted 1 week ago by eTeam Workforce Limited


The Service Design & Transition Analyst role involves supporting service design and transition activities across various...

  • Rate £380 per day
  • Category Inside
  • Work type Hybrid
  • Location Manchester, UK

Mechanical Design Engineer

Posted 1 week ago by Ganymede Solutions


The role of Mechanical Designer in the water industry involves delivering high-quality mechanical design for wastewater...

  • Rate £400 per day
  • Category Outside
  • Work type Hybrid
  • Location Clayton Ind Est, Manchester (M11), M11 1AA

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Social Media Manager - 6M FTC

Posted 1 week ago by Freshfields


The Social Media Manager role is integral to the global communications function, focusing on executing the firm's global...

  • Rate Negotiable
  • Category Undetermined
  • Work type Undetermined
  • Location Manchester Area, United Kingdom

About Our Design Contract Roles in Manchester

What does a design contractor do?

Design contractors in the digital and creative space span a range of specialisms including UX design, UI design, product design, service design, interaction design, graphic design, and motion design, all of whom contribute to the look, feel, and usability of digital products, communications, and services. Contract engagements arise across technology companies, digital agencies, financial services, the public sector, and any organisation investing in the quality of its digital and physical user experience. Designers are brought in to fill a vacancy, provide additional resource during a product build or rebrand, or contribute specialist expertise to a project that the permanent team cannot cover.

The skills expected vary considerably by specialism. UX designers need proficiency in research methods, wireframing, and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD. UI designers need strong visual design skills and a deep understanding of design systems and component libraries. Service designers need experience mapping end-to-end user journeys, facilitating co-design workshops, and working within complex multi-channel service environments. Product designers need to span both UX and UI, with the ability to work across the full product design lifecycle from research to polished visual design. Across all design disciplines, a strong portfolio demonstrating the quality and impact of previous work is the primary selection criterion. The ability to collaborate effectively within cross-functional product and engineering teams, articulate design decisions clearly, and iterate based on user research and feedback is consistently expected.

What is the market like for design contractors?

The market for Design contractors is a large and active market, driven by the broad and sustained investment in digital product and service design across the public and private sectors. The most active markets for design contractors are technology product companies, financial services, central government digital programmes, and the NHS, all of which maintain significant ongoing design resource needs. Demand for UX and product design contractors has been particularly strong, reflecting the central role of user experience in the commercial success of digital products. Rates vary by specialism and seniority, with senior product designers and service designers on complex public sector or financial services programmes commanding rates at the upper end of the digital design contracting market.

What is the contracting market like in Manchester?

Manchester has established itself as the strongest contractor hub outside London, supported by a diverse economy spanning financial services, technology, media, and the public sector. MediaCityUK at Salford Quays anchors a cluster of digital, creative, and broadcasting employers, while Spinningfields and the wider city centre house the financial and professional services concentration. Several major insurers and banks run significant operations from Manchester, and the technology sector has matured considerably, with both established firms and scale-ups competing for software engineering, cloud, and data contractors. The rate gap with London has narrowed over the past few years as employer competition for experienced contractors in the city has intensified, and for many disciplines Manchester now offers comparable depth of opportunity at a materially lower cost base.

How much do design contractors usually earn in Manchester?

Contract rates for design roles in Manchester typically range from £350 to £650 per day, depending on the scope of the role, required expertise, and the delivery expectations of the engagement.

How many design vacancies in Manchester are there on Quality Contracts?

Over the past twelve months, we have tracked over 170 design contract roles across the site, with Manchester accounting for a significant portion. Data reviewed up to June 2026.