PowerShell Automation Engineer (Freelance Contractor)– Security & Identity in Slough

Duration: 12 months

Rate: Flexible £€

Locations: London, Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam

Working Model: Hybrid – 8 days onsite per month

Overview

We are seeking an experienced PowerShell Automation Engineer to join a security-focused technology team responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining automation solutions that support identity, access management, and operational security processes. This role combines automation engineering, infrastructure support, reporting, and security-focused solution development. The successful candidate will work closely with technical and business stakeholders to deliver scalable automation, improve operational efficiency, strengthen security controls, and support critical enterprise systems. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, building robust automation frameworks, and working within a highly collaborative international environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Automation & Development
  • Design, develop, test, and maintain PowerShell modules, scripts, and automation solutions.
  • Create reusable automation frameworks that reduce manual effort and improve operational efficiency.
  • Implement PowerShell best practices, including modular design, parameter validation, error handling, logging, and secure credential management.
  • Perform code reviews and leverage static code analysis tools to ensure high-quality, maintainable solutions.
  • Manage source control repositories and support CI/CD practices where applicable.
• Solution Design & Documentation
  • Gather and analyse business and technical requirements from stakeholders.
  • Translate requirements into scalable technical solutions and system designs.
  • Produce and maintain technical documentation, including architecture diagrams, process flows, operational procedures, and system configurations.
  • Support knowledge sharing and documentation standards across the team.
• Security & Identity Management
  • Support security initiatives through automation and process improvement.
  • Conduct security assessments and risk analyses to identify vulnerabilities and recommend remediation actions.
  • Implement and maintain security controls aligned with organisational policies and regulatory requirements.
  • Work with identity and access management processes, including Active Directory administration and identity governance concepts.
• Infrastructure & Operational Support
  • Monitor and maintain automation platforms, supporting infrastructure, servers, databases, and associated components.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues impacting automation solutions and operational processes.
  • Ensure solutions remain reliable, scalable, secure, and performant.
  • Support incident investigation, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement activities.
• Reporting & Analytics
  • Develop and maintain operational and security reporting solutions.
  • Work with SQL data sources to extract, transform, and analyse information.
  • Create and maintain Power BI dashboards and reports to support decision-making and operational oversight.
  • Provide meaningful insights through data visualisation and reporting.
• Collaboration
  • Partner with Security, Infrastructure, Operations, Compliance, and Engineering teams.
  • Participate in Agile/Scrum ceremonies and contribute to delivery planning and prioritisation.
  • Communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders across multiple locations and cultures.

Required Skills & Experience

• PowerShell
  • Advanced PowerShell development experience (PowerShell 5.1 and/or 7+).
  • Strong understanding of scripting, functions, modules, remoting, and automation frameworks.
  • Expertise in PowerShell best practices, including:
  • Code readability and maintainability
  • Approved verbs and naming conventions
  • Parameter validation
  • Secure secret and credential handling
  • Error handling and logging
  • Testing approaches where appropriate
• Automation & Engineering
  • Experience developing enterprise automation solutions and operational tooling.
  • Familiarity with PowerShell Script Analyzer and static code analysis tools.
  • Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Identity & Infrastructure
  • Solid Active Directory administration experience.
  • Strong understanding of authentication, authorisation, delegation, and identity management concepts.
  • Experience supporting enterprise infrastructure environments.
• Data & Reporting
  • Knowledge of SQL and T-SQL fundamentals.
  • Experience querying, shaping, and analysing operational data.
  • Ability to produce clear and actionable operational and security reports.
• Professional Skills
  • Strong analytical and critical-thinking capabilities.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.
  • Experience working within Agile/Scrum environments.
  • Comfortable operating in multicultural and geographically distributed teams.

Desirable Skills

• Experience with Ansible for configuration management and automation.
• Exposure to SailPoint Identity Security Cloud or other Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) platforms.
• Experience integrating identity solutions with SIEM, PAM, and other security technologies.
• Working knowledge of Power BI for dashboard development and data visualisation.
• Exposure to Microsoft Power Apps.
• Ability to read and interpret Excel VBA scripts.

What You'll Bring

• A passion for automation and continuous improvement.
• A security-first mindset.
• The ability to bridge technical and business requirements.
• Strong ownership and accountability for delivered solutions.
• A collaborative approach and commitment to high-quality engineering standards.