Automation Engineer Contract Jobs in Cambridge
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Network Architect
Posted 1 month ago by PRIMUS Global Solutions (PRIMUS UK & Eur...
The Network Architect position requires expertise in Cisco routing and switching, MPLS, and cloud networking with AWS an...
- Rate Negotiable
- Category Undetermined
- Work type Undetermined
- Location Warwick, England, United Kingdom
Graduate Trainee Engineer (Battery Materials and Cells Group) x2 (111695-0626)
Posted 1 month ago by University of Warwick
Launch your career at WMG, University of Warwick as a Graduate Trainee Engineer in the Battery Materials and Cells Group...
- Rate £31,236 per year
- Category Outside
- Work type Hybrid
- Location Coventry, England, United Kingdom
Senior AI Platform Architect – Agentic SDLC Automation
Posted 1 month ago by W3Global
We are seeking a Senior AI Platform Architect to design and operationalise an enterprise Agentic AI Harness for end-to-e...
- Rate £450 per day
- Category Undetermined
- Work type Undetermined
- Location London, England, United Kingdom
Global Offer Manager - Enterprise Operations and Customer Service (Temporary)
Posted 1 month ago by Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
BCG is seeking a Global Offer Manager for a temporary fixed-term contract to support two global offers within the Operat...
- Rate Negotiable
- Category Undetermined
- Work type Undetermined
- Location London, England, United Kingdom
Controls & Automation Technician (Field & Workshop)
Posted 1 month ago by Ernest Gordon Recruitment
Are you a Controls & Automation Technician with PLC experience, looking for a varied role split between field-based...
- Rate £47,000 per year
- Category Undetermined
- Work type Hybrid
- Location Ipswich, England, United Kingdom
Network Project Engineer
Posted 1 month ago by PRIMUS Global Solutions (PRIMUS UK & Eur...
The Network Project Engineer position requires proven experience in monitoring, maintaining, and troubleshooting network...
- Rate Negotiable
- Category Undetermined
- Work type Undetermined
- Location Glasgow City, Scotland, United Kingdom
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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 May 2026.