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Freelance Operational Technology Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

AHEAD

Operational Technology Engineer

Reading, PA · On-site

The Opportunity As an Operational Technology Engineer based at our UK Foundry, you will help operate and evolve the Foundry's operational technology environment that powers our industrial-scale ...

Agilent

Operational Technology Engineer (OTE)

Frederick, CO · On-site

$103K - $161K/yr

As an Operational Technology Engineer (OTE), you will play a vital role on the Automation Engineering team by working closely with Information Technology (IT) to ensure optimization of commercial GMP ...

Agilent

Operational Technology Engineer (OTE)

Frederick, CO · On-site

$103K - $161K/yr

As an Operational Technology Engineer (OTE), you will play a vital role on the Automation Engineering team by working closely with Information Technology (IT) to ensure optimization of commercial GMP ...

IPL (Indiana)

Operational Technology Engineer

Dayton, OH · On-site

$67K - $91K/yr

... operations, networking, and cybersecurity, with exposure to power system modeling and remote field devices. The engineer will work with both modern and legacy technologies while supporting the AES ...

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Freelance Operational Technology Engineer information

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How much do freelance operational technology engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance operational technology engineer in the United States is $47.71, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.28 and $61.78 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Freelance Operational Technology Engineer vs Freelance Industrial Automation Engineer?

AspectFreelance Operational Technology EngineerFreelance Industrial Automation Engineer
CredentialsRelevant certifications in OT, cybersecurity, and networkingCertifications in PLC programming, control systems, and automation
Work EnvironmentIndustrial facilities, control rooms, and remote sitesManufacturing plants, factories, and automation systems
Industry UsageUtilities, energy, manufacturing, and process industriesManufacturing, robotics, and process automation
Search & Comparison IntentSeeking OT-specific freelance roles, cybersecurity, or network integrationLooking for automation system design, programming, or troubleshooting

Both roles involve working with industrial systems, but the Freelance Operational Technology Engineer focuses on the integration and security of operational networks, while the Freelance Industrial Automation Engineer specializes in designing and programming automation systems. Understanding these distinctions helps clients find the right expertise for their industrial projects.

What cities are hiring for Freelance Operational Technology Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Freelance Operational Technology Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Operational Technology Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Operational Technology Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Freelance Operational Technology Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Freelance Operational Technology Engineer jobs include:
Freelance Operational Technology Engineer jobs near you
Operational Technology Engineer

Operational Technology Engineer

AHEAD

Reading, PA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 23 days ago

Job description

AHEAD builds platforms for digital business. By weaving together advances in cloud infrastructure, automation and analytics, and software delivery, we help enterprises deliver on the promise of digital transformation.
 
At AHEAD, we prioritize creating a culture of belonging, where all perspectives and voices are represented, valued, respected, and heard. We create spaces to empower everyone to speak up, make change, and drive the culture at AHEAD. 
 
We are an equal opportunity employer, and do not discriminate based on an individual's age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage & civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law, whether actual or perceived. 
 
We embrace all candidates that will contribute to the diversification and enrichment of ideas and perspectives at AHEAD. 

The Opportunity

As an Operational Technology Engineer based at our UK Foundry, you will help operate and evolve the Foundry's operational technology environment that powers our industrial-scale integration engine. You will support and maintain operational networks, security platforms, and automation systems that enable high throughput, high reliability manufacturing and integration workflows. 

AHEAD Foundry operates like a continuously changing data centre, with thousands of devices, ports, and systems in motion. This is the first OT Engineer hire in the UK which is growing fast, so you'd need to be comfortable operating in a high-impact role where you will operate with significant autonomy while working closely with peers in Foundry, Operations, Product, Software, and Corporate IT to ensure the environment remains secure, observable, and scalable as the business grows.

To be considered for this role, you must have the right to work in the UK.  Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Technology Platforms

  • Operate and maintain the Foundry operational networks and supporting platforms.
  • Support the automation tooling and systems used for imaging, testing, and validation.
  • Assist with Linux-based system builds, OS imaging, and test tooling (Python-based).
  • Participate in maintaining cross-site file synchronisation and golden image governance.

Network, Compute, and Access

  • Support a network environment with hundreds of switches and thousands of ports.
  • Assist with VPN's, remote access platforms, and secure client connectivity for staging and testing.
  • Operate and maintain on-prem Nutanix clusters hosting production tooling and remote access services.
  • Administer Jira and Confluence environments used by the Foundry team.

Security, Compliance, Backup, and DR

  • Support network and platform hardening using segmentation, firewalls, and access controls.
  • Assist with Palo Alto firewall operations, Panorama management, licensing and updates.
  • Support GitLab operations for CI and source control availability.
  • Participate in backup operations and disaster recovery testing to meet RPO/RTO objectives.
  • Operate within ISO certified environments (ISO 9001).

Reliability and Observability

  • Monitor and respond to alerts across network, compute, backup, UPS, and facility systems.
  • Participate in change control processes, patching windows, and configuration management.
  • Assist with diagnosing and resolving complex, multi-layer operational issues.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Partner with Foundry Operations on capacity planning and facility optimisation.
  • Collaborate with Product and Software teams to extend automation and integrate new technologies.
  • Coordinate with telecoms providers, vendors, and internal teams for connectivity and infrastructure delivery.
  • Support testing standards and new hardware introduction with engineering and verification teams.

Health, Safety and Environment

  • Work in accordance with the company health and safety policies.
  • Reporting of hazards, incidents, or unsafe working conditions.
  • Using equipment and tools in accordance with safety guidance and training.

Data Protection and Confidentiality

  • Comply with all company information security, confidentiality, and data protection policies when handling company systems, customer data, or proprietary information.

Technology Environment

Networking and security (Palo Alto, Panorama, EVPN/BGP), Linux, Nutanix, GitLab, Puppet/Ansible, automation tooling, telemetry and alerting platforms.

This job description is intended to outline the general nature and level of work expected in the role.  It is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities.  Duties and responsibilities may change from time to time in line with business needs.

Skills and Experience

Essential

  • Strong networking fundamentals: routing, switching, VPN's, segmentation, and firewall concepts.
  • Solid Linux experience and familiarity with virtualisation (KVM, Nutanix).
  • Experience supporting automation or imaging platforms in production environments.
  • Familiarity with configuration management or automation tools (Ansible, Puppet, CI/CD).
  • Strong troubleshooting skills across hardware, network, and software layers.
  • Clear written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable

  • Exposure to ISO 9001 and/or ISO 13485 environments.
  • Experience with Palo Alto firewalls, Panorama, or Cisco DNA.
  • Familiarity with AI/HPC hardware, or high-density rack environments.
  • GitLab administration experience.

Qualifications
Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical discipline

Or

Equivalent professional experience in operational infrastructure, network engineering, or systems engineering.

Additional Information

Line Management

This role has no line management responsibilities.

Work Environment

This role operates in a professional office environment, a computer integration facility, and server rooms. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and conferencing equipment.

Physical demands

The role may require periods of standing, walking, and working with computer hardware.  Occasional lifting and handling of equipment may be required.  Where required, appropriate training and equipment will be provided.

AHEAD is committed to supporting employees through reasonable adjustments where in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Work Hours

Standard hours of work are typically 8 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday. Occasional evening and weekend work may be necessary.

Travel

This role may require up to 10% travel, which may include international.

70,000 - 80,000 a year
Depending on experience.
The compensation range indicated in this posting reflects the On-Target Earnings ("OTE") for this role, which includes a base salary and any applicable target bonus amount. This OTE range may vary based on the candidate's relevant experience, qualifications, and geographic location.  
 
Why AHEAD:
 
Through our daily work and internal groups like Moving Women AHEAD and RISE AHEAD, we value and benefit from diversity of people, ideas, experience, and everything in between.
 
We fuel growth by stacking our office with top-notch technologies in a multi-million-dollar lab, by encouraging cross department training and development, sponsoring certifications and credentials for continued learning.
 
Use of AI:
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, assessing responses, or to capture recordings and create transcriptions or summaries during interviews. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans.
 
If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please refer to the Candidate Privacy Notice or contact us at [email protected]. 
 
You may opt-out of the review or analysis of your application and resume by AI tools by using the General Application. Please include the role you wish to apply for in the Additional Information field. You may also choose to opt-out of recording and transcription at any time, including after joining an interview.  Candidates will not be penalized for choosing to opt-out.
 
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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