At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape and deliver the technical vision for transforming resident services.
- Company: Essex County Council, a leader in innovative public service delivery.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and support for unpaid carers.
- Other info: Hybrid working role with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on residents' experiences with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Degree level education and significant experience in technical architecture.
The predicted salary is between 76713 - 76713 £ per year.
Fixed Term / Secondment (12 months), Full Time £65,207 - £76,713 per annum
Location: Chelmsford* (hybrid, at least one day per week)
Working Style: Anywhere worker
Closing Date: 15th July 2026
Essex County Council is transforming how residents access council services through a major Resident Experience Programme. The Technical Architect role will shape and deliver the technical vision for this transformation.
Role Responsibilities
- Define and maintain the technical architecture vision, standards and roadmap for the Resident Experience Programme.
- Design end‑to‑end technical solutions that support modern, user‑centred and integrated resident services.
- Lead the architectural design of cloud‑native platforms, applications and integrations, ensuring solutions are scalable, secure, resilient and cost‑effective.
- Work closely with multidisciplinary delivery teams, including developers, product managers, business analysts and service designers, providing technical leadership throughout the delivery lifecycle.
- Collaborate with Solution Architects, Enterprise Architects and technology teams to ensure alignment with council‑wide architectural principles, strategies and roadmaps.
- Produce and maintain architecture artefacts including solution designs, interface specifications, architecture decision records and transition roadmaps.
- Provide technical assurance and governance for projects and programmes, ensuring compliance with security, data, architectural and technology standards.
- Identify opportunities to improve resident experiences through the effective use of cloud technologies, digital platforms, integration patterns and emerging technologies.
- Support the evolution of development practices, DevOps capabilities and cloud operating models across delivery teams.
- Build effective relationships with suppliers and partners, providing challenge and guidance to ensure solutions deliver maximum value.
- Translate complex technical concepts into clear and accessible language for senior business stakeholders and programme leadership teams.
- Contribute to strategic technology planning, helping shape future digital capabilities in support of council priorities and organisational change.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Educated to degree level (RQF Level 6) or equivalent relevant experience.
- Significant experience working as a Technical Architect, Solution Architect or similar architecture role within a complex organisation.
- Strong experience designing and implementing cloud‑based solutions, particularly within Microsoft Azure environments.
- Strong software engineering and application development background with a clear understanding of modern development practices and architectures.
- Experience designing distributed, API‑led and event‑driven architectures.
- Experience working closely with development teams in Agile and product‑centred delivery environments.
- Knowledge of DevOps principles, CI/CD pipelines, Infrastructure as Code and modern platform engineering practices.
- Experience designing secure, resilient and scalable digital services.
- Excellent understanding of integration architectures, data flows and enterprise systems.
- Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence technical and non‑technical audiences.
- Experience producing architecture artefacts, technical designs and governance documentation.
- Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to lead architectural discussions and build consensus across diverse stakeholder groups.
*This is a hybrid‑working role contractually based in Chelmsford.
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. We also commit to interview veterans and care leavers who meet the minimum requirements of the role.
Once you’ve secured your role with Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs. We value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
Email for queries on this role or further information: resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk
Technical Architect in Chelmsford employer: Essex County Counci
Essex County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration in the heart of Chelmsford. With a strong commitment to employee well-being, we provide flexible working arrangements, comprehensive support for unpaid carers, and a culture that values integrity and ethical behaviour. Join us to be part of a transformative journey that enhances resident experiences while enjoying ample opportunities for professional growth and development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Technical Architect in Chelmsford
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Essex County Counci or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Essex County Counci.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Essex County Counci.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Essex County Counci that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Technical Architect in Chelmsford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Essex County Counci.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Essex County Counci and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Essex County Counci
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Essex County Counci uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
