At a Glance
- Tasks: Enhance Azure infrastructure and support critical public services in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Essex County Council, a leading local authority focused on innovation and community service.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and support for unpaid carers.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a supportive and inclusive workplace.
- Why this job: Join a transformative team shaping the future of public services with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Extensive Azure experience, strong Terraform and PowerShell skills, and collaborative mindset.
The predicted salary is between 56326 - 56326 £ per year.
Fixed Term / Secondment (12 months), Full Time £47,878 to £56,326 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style: Anywhere worker
Closing Date: 6th October 2026
Please note this is a hybrid-working role, with a requirement to work in the Chelmsford office five days per month on average or as required, depending on business need. This role will be offered as a fixed-term contract for a duration of 12 months, with the possibility of extension beyond the initial fixed-term period. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role, so applicants must have current unrestricted right to work in the UK for this period.
This role would suit an experienced Azure platform engineer who can make an immediate contribution within a large, live Azure estate. As Essex County Council (ECC) continues to modernise its digital estate, we are investing in the Azure capability needed to keep critical services secure, reliable and efficient.
You will work within an established Platform and Infrastructure team, delivering practical improvements to automation, governance, networking, monitoring and operational support across services that matter to residents and colleagues across Essex.
Join a Council Shaping the Future of Public Services. Essex Digital Service is transforming how Essex County Council delivers services, making it easier and safer for colleagues and residents to get things done. We design and support modern, user-focused digital services across areas such as social care, education, transport and the environment. This role provides the platform engineering expertise needed to support that work in a secure, scalable and reliable way.
This is a hands-on Azure platform role for someone who can quickly become productive in a live, governed enterprise environment. As Senior Platform and Infrastructure Engineer, you’ll work closely with architecture, cyber security, delivery teams and suppliers to support the safe and effective use of Azure across ECC.
Key Responsibilities:
- Operate and continuously improve ECC’s Azure Landing Zone, ensuring it remains secure, resilient and supportable.
- Build and maintain Azure infrastructure using Terraform, PowerShell and automation tooling.
- Provide senior technical expertise across Azure networking and connectivity, including Virtual Networks, Virtual WAN, ExpressRoute, VPN, DNS and private connectivity.
- Maintain core platform governance controls across Management Groups, Azure Policy, RBAC, tagging and subscriptions.
- Support project and development teams to onboard services using approved platform patterns.
- Drive platform enhancements, service improvements and infrastructure modernisation to improve resilience, performance, cost efficiency, monitoring and operational visibility, using team KPIs and service data to identify priorities and demonstrate meaningful improvement.
- Contribute to disaster recovery planning, implementation and testing across Azure platform services.
- Provide senior technical input during incidents, root cause analysis and service improvement activity.
- Maintain clear operational documentation and support effective handover for platform changes, incidents and operational processes.
The Experience You Will Bring:
- Extensive hands-on experience implementing and operating Microsoft Azure infrastructure in large, complex enterprise environments, including Azure Landing Zone management, governance controls, Management Groups, Azure Policy, RBAC and subscription lifecycle management.
- Strong Terraform experience, including reusable modules, source control and automated deployment pipelines.
- Advanced PowerShell skills used for infrastructure automation, platform management and reporting.
- Strong Azure networking experience, including routing, DNS, ExpressRoute, VPN, Virtual WAN, Load Balancers and Private Endpoints.
- Experience developing and maintaining Azure infrastructure CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps or equivalent tooling.
- Strong troubleshooting experience across Azure platform, networking, Entra ID and hybrid infrastructure services.
- A collaborative approach, with the ability to work across multiple teams, explain technical decisions clearly and contribute to practical service improvements.
Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
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. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including 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.
If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community.
If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Senior Platform & Infrastructure Engineer (Azure Platform Specialist) in Chelmsford employer: Essex County Council
Essex County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and flexible work environment for Social Workers dedicated to making a difference in the lives of young people with disabilities. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing, innovative practices, and professional development, our team enjoys a nine-day working fortnight and numerous opportunities for growth within a dynamic local authority. Join us in Chelmsford, where your contributions will be valued, and together we can empower the next generation to thrive.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Platform & Infrastructure Engineer (Azure Platform Specialist) 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 Council 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 Council.
✨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 Council.
✨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 Council 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 Senior Platform & Infrastructure Engineer (Azure Platform Specialist) 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 Council.
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 Council 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 Council
✨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 Council 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.
