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Automation Test Engineer Contract Jobs in California

Vertex Sigma Software

Test Engineer

Foster City, CA · On-site

Test Engineer - RiderDash, Concierge and CoreDash Onsite in Foster City, CA | 5 days in office We ... Develop, maintain, and expand Playwright automation test cases to enhance regression coverage and ...

Vertex Sigma Software

Test Engineer

Foster City, CA · On-site

Test Engineer - RiderDash, Concierge and CoreDash Onsite in Foster City, CA 5 days in office We are ... Develop, maintain, and expand Playwright automation test cases to enhance regression coverage and ...

Vertex Sigma Software

Test Engineer

Foster City, CA · On-site

Test Engineer - RiderDash, Concierge and CoreDash Onsite in Foster City, CA | 5 days in office We ... Develop, maintain, and expand Playwright automation test cases to enhance regression coverage and ...

Eridan

Test & Automation Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA

$54 - $71.25/hr

About this Job Eridan is seeking a Test & Automation Engineer to lead the evolution of our board ... Qualify new test stations, support remote debugging for contract manufacturers, and bring up new ...

Eridan

Test & Automation Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$54 - $71.25/hr

About this Job Eridan is seeking a Test & Automation Engineer to lead the evolution of our board ... Qualify new test stations, support remote debugging for contract manufacturers, and bring up new ...

Eridan

Test & Automation Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA

$54 - $71.25/hr

About this Job Eridan is seeking a Test & Automation Engineer to lead the evolution of our board ... Qualify new test stations, support remote debugging for contract manufacturers, and bring up new ...

Anduril Industries

Test Automation Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA

$49.25 - $65.25/hr

... contract manufacturers. We work closely and cross-functionally with the rest of our Product ... We are looking to bring on a Test Automation Engineer to design and deliver test systems for ...

Monks

Battery Test Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

Automate validation - Codevelop automated validation processes and test automation with other test engineers. * Collaborate across teams - Work closely with algorithm engineers and test peers to ...

Hadrian Automation

Test Automation Engineer

Torrance, CA · On-site

$150K - $250K/yr

The Role As a Test Automation Engineer, you will own comprehensive test engineering for Special Projects hardware from early bring-up through production ramp. You will define what gets tested, where ...

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All JobsAutomation Test Engineer Contract JobsAutomation Test Engineer Contract Jobs in California

Automation Test Engineer Contract information

See California salary details

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How much do automation test engineer contract jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average hourly pay for automation test engineer contract in California is $50.61, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $43.65 and $57.64 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Automation Test Engineer Contract vs QA Tester Contract?

AspectAutomation Test Engineer ContractQA Tester Contract
Required CredentialsCertifications in automation tools (e.g., Selenium, QTP), programming skillsBasic testing certifications (e.g., ISTQB), testing methodologies
Work EnvironmentFocus on automation frameworks, scripting, and tool developmentManual testing, test case execution, defect reporting
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in software development, IT, and tech companies for automated testingCommon across various industries for manual quality assurance

Automation Test Engineer Contract roles typically require automation tool expertise and scripting skills, focusing on developing automated tests. QA Tester Contract roles mainly involve manual testing and test case execution. Both roles are essential in quality assurance but differ in technical focus and responsibilities.

What are Automation Test Engineer contracts?

Automation Test Engineer contracts are temporary work agreements where professionals are hired to design, develop, and execute automated tests for software applications. These contracts typically span a set period and focus on improving software quality, efficiency, and reliability by automating repetitive testing tasks. Contractors may work with various tools and frameworks, collaborate with development teams, and create detailed test reports. Such roles are ideal for companies seeking specialized testing expertise without committing to permanent hires.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Automation Test Engineer on contract, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Automation Test Engineer on contract, you typically need strong programming skills (such as in Java, Python, or JavaScript), experience with testing frameworks, and a background in software quality assurance. Familiarity with tools like Selenium, Jenkins, JUnit, and CI/CD systems, as well as relevant certifications (e.g., ISTQB), is highly valued. Excellent problem-solving, adaptability, and effective communication help contractors quickly integrate into teams and address changing project needs. These skills ensure efficient, high-quality test automation solutions that meet fast-paced project requirements.

What are some common challenges Automation Test Engineers face when working on contract assignments?

As a contract Automation Test Engineer, you may encounter challenges such as quickly adapting to new teams, tools, and project requirements. Contract roles often require you to become productive in a short time frame, so strong communication and self-management skills are important. Additionally, you might need to work with varied automation frameworks and integrate your work with existing systems, which can present technical and organizational hurdles. Building rapport with permanent staff and demonstrating your expertise early on can help you overcome these challenges and succeed in the role.
What are the most commonly searched types of Automation Test Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Automation Test Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Automation Test Engineer Contract jobs? Cities in California with the most Automation Test Engineer Contract job openings:
Automation Test Engineer Contract jobs near you
Infographic showing various Automation Test Engineer Contract job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $105,259 per year, or $50.6 per hour.

Automation Test Engineer

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise USA, Inc.

Calabasas, CA • Hybrid

$49 - $64.75/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

Automation Test Engineer
We are Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise. Our vision is to deliver the customized technology experiences our customers need. Our mission is to make everything connect by delivering digital age networking, communications and cloud solutions with services tailored to ensure our customers’ success. In the Cloud. On Premise. Hybrid. ALE is a trusted advisor to more than a million customers all over the world and active in 50+ countries. Learn more about us on https://www.al-enterprise.com/en/company/about-us 
 Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise has an opportunity for a Automation Test Engineer working out of our Calabasas, CA location.
JOB DUTIES:  This job consists of three related but separate duties.  They are:
  1. Develop test cases for networking features and protocols based on technical review of Software and Hardware functional specifications, RFCs and real-world scenarios
  2. Design, develop, operate, and debug automation scripts/tools used for testing data communication network switches and routers. 
  3. Design and implement switched LAN and WAN network topologies
  4. Conduct manual, semi-automated, and automated tests to validate new product development, debug scripts, and troubleshoot switch problems.
  5. Work on complex customer escalated failure conditions and isolate bug
  6. Open problem reports for failures detected, troubleshoot failures to their root-cause and clearly understand and articulate those failures. Work with software engineers to resolve the failures.

In support of the above, the individual will configure, operate, and automate Ixia and SmartBits traffic generators.
EXPERIENCE: Minimum of 3+ years experience in Data communication product test and verification environment. Must have hands-on experience in configuring Switches and Routers, methodical trouble shooting techniques in a complex product environment with dynamically changing network topologies. TCP/IP protocol knowledge and experience in Ethernet is required. Experience in operation and development of test automation systems using the Unix environment and Scripting languages. 
Very good understanding of L2/ L3 layers of OSI Sack. Strong understanding of TCP/ IP layer and HTTP/ HTTPS protocols and hands on experience on testing them. In-depth knowledge and protocol testing experience of protocols like MPLS, RSTP, MSTP, LLDP, LACP, OAM, BGP, OSPF, PIM, ISIS, QoS, 802.1Q, and SNMP v1, v2, and v3.  Good hands on experience in Python scripting language.  Extensive experience in handling IXIA, Spirent traffic generators. Hands on experience in creating test beds for complex customer escalations.  Other desirable skills include experience with a Solaris/UNIX environment and C-programming.
The individual must be a resourceful, independent, multi-tasking, self-starter who wants to work in a high paced, fast learning, team environment. A successful candidate will have knowledge about product software development/test life cycle and must be passionate about delivering thoroughly tested, high quality products within the demands of deadlines.
If you are a California resident, please click on the link below for information about your specific rights regarding your personal information under the California Consumer Privacy Act.
https://www.al-enterprise.com/en/legal/privacy
Rate range - $63,000 to 85,000 plus bonus potential and benefits (medical, dental, vision care on day1, 401k match dollar for dollar up to 6%, life, short and long term disability. 22 vacation days plus 8 holidays)