Technical Assistant

Howden Joinery Group plc; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading trade kitchen supplier in the UK is seeking a Technical Assistant to join their Technical Team. The ideal candidate will assist with product innovation and documentation, requiring a relevant degree or equivalent experience. The role offers competitive salary, bonuses, and various employee benefits including staff discounts and development opportunities in a supportive environment.

Benefits

Competitive Salary + Bonus

Pension Plan with company contributions

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Staff discount

Free lunch at onsite canteen

Free on-site car parking

Qualifications

• A degree in Product Design, Industrial Design, Furniture Design, or a related discipline.
• Experience in a manufacturing or technical support environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and familiarity with CAD software.

Responsibilities

• Support delivery of NPI, product changes, and packaging development.
• Review and interpret technical drawings and documentation.
• Coordinate activities and manage ordering and storage of product samples.

Skills

Degree in Product Design

Experience in manufacturing or technical support

Strong proficiency with Microsoft 365

Familiarity with SolidWorks or CAD software

Excellent attention to detail

Strong communication skills

Education

Degree in Product Design, Industrial Design, Furniture Design

Tools

Microsoft 365

SolidWorks

SAP

Job description

Howdens is seeking a Technical Assistant to join our Technical Team. If you have a degree or work experience in Product Design, Industrial Design, Furniture Design, or a related discipline and you’re eager to work with real products, support innovation, and help bring new ideas to life, this could be an excellent opportunity to develop your career.

Location: Howdens, Goole
Contract: Permanent/Full-time
Reporting to: Senior Technical Developer

What You Will Be Doing as a Technical Assistant

• Support delivery of NPI, product changes, packaging development, and improvements across multiple sites (Howdens, Runcorn, HWS, PTO).
• Coordinate activities with the Fit, Form & Function testing facility at Factory 4 and assist in generating test reports.
• Manage ordering, tracking, and storage of product samples from stock and suppliers.
• Arrange and report on production trials with manufacturing teams.
• Assist with specification updates and ensure product changes are documented accurately.
• Support manufacturing teams with quality or process-related issues.
• Provide technical support to depots via the helpline.
• Respond to technical product requests from the Contracts Team.
• Review and interpret technical drawings and documentation.
• Raise purchase orders and process invoices.
• Act as a key coordinator between teams, suppliers, and sites to ensure smooth communication and timely project delivery.
• Opportunity to progress into a Technical Developer role.

What We Require – Skills

• A degree in Product Design, Industrial Design, Furniture Design, or a related design/development discipline (or equivalent industry experience).
• Ideally, experience within a manufacturing or technical support environment.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft 365, with SAP experience considered a bonus.
• Familiarity with SolidWorks or similar CAD software.
• The ability to create and maintain accurate technical documentation.
• Excellent attention to detail and the capability to manage multiple priorities at once.
• Strong communication and organisation skills, paired with a proactive, problem‑solving approach.
• The confidence and interpersonal skills needed to build effective working relationships across teams.

What We Offer

• Competitive Salary + Bonus
• Pension Plan with a maximum company contribution of 12%
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays with an opportunity to purchase additional days.
• Staff discount
• Ongoing support and development
• Free lunch at our onsite canteen
• Free on‑site car parking
• A friendly and supportive environment offering exceptional reward and recognition.

About Howdens

Howdens Joinery is the UK’s number one trade kitchen supplier providing thousands of products across kitchens, joinery, and hardware. We have over 800 depots throughout the UK and Europe – making us the first choice for more than 460,000 loyal trade professionals. Last year our sales reached circa 2.3bn, and we have an ambitious growth agenda. There is a strong entrepreneurial ethos and the opportunity to develop within a fast‑paced and commercial environment. That, along with a competitive salary, development opportunities, and exciting rewards, are among the reasons why our people enjoy working for Howdens – and why we have been named one of the 10 Best Big Companies to Work For.

How to Apply

We’re building a future where world‑class service, innovation, and sustainability are embedded within our DNA. If Howdens sounds like the kind of place where you can build and develop your career as a Technical Assistant, then we’re keen to hear from you. Howdens is founded on the principle of being Worthwhile for ALL concerned. We’re working hard to ensure we provide an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome. We will do everything we can to support you during your application. If you need us to make any adjustments to our recruitment process, please email [e-mail] with the job title and location, and we will be happy to help you.

Seniority Level

• Entry level

Employment Type

• Full‑time

Job Function

• Other