Solutions Architect

Salary: £39,000 - 79,000 per year

Requirements:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant subject.
• Strong experience in solutions architecture, ideally within a large local authority or public sector service provider.
• Proven track record of designing business and technical solutions that meet complex requirements and support simplification and reuse.
• Accredited in TOGAF, or able to demonstrate equivalent architecture framework experience, with working knowledge of approaches such as ArchiMate, BPMN, COBIT and IT4IT.
• Clear understanding of ICT standards and experience applying them in enterprise environments.
• Skilled in using enterprise architecture, modelling or design tools to describe current and future-state services, capabilities and technology landscapes.
• Experience developing systems in line with GDS principles and relevant cyber security standards or good practice.
• Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Committed to continuous professional development and staying current with emerging technologies and delivery practices.

Responsibilities:

• Design business, technical, data and security solutions that translate user and service requirements into practical, sustainable technology services.
• Ensure solutions align with our architectural principles and technical standards to support standardisation and reuse.
• Apply policies, standards and good practice to ensure solutions are aligned with business needs, technology plans and governance requirements.
• Provide expert input into technical initiatives, ensuring consistent design and implementation across our digital estate.
• Contribute to innovation by identifying market trends and alternative approaches that deliver business benefits and align with enterprise architecture.
• Advise the Commercial Team on supplier and product selection, ensuring alignment with our architecture and operational principles.
• Collaborate with business relationship managers, architects, designers and suppliers to shape and present business cases for significant digital and technology initiatives.
• Assess technology options and present strengths, weaknesses, and costs to stakeholders through clear, evidence-based recommendations.

Technologies:

• Architect
• ArchiMate
• BPMN
• ICT
• Support
• Security
• TOGAF

More:

Essex Digital Service is transforming how Essex County Council delivers services, making it easier and safer for people to get things done for colleagues and residents. We design and deliver modern, user-focused digital solutions across social care, education, transport and the environment, with a vision to build digitally empowered, 21st-century services that work across teams and boundaries. This is a permanent, full-time Solutions Architect role based in Chelmsford with flexible hybrid working, typically around 2 to 3 days per month in the office depending on business need. We offer excellent development opportunities, flexible working, employee benefits including support for unpaid carers, and the chance to help shape the future of public services in Essex.

last updated 36 week of 2026