Graduate CAD Systems Analyst

Howden Joinery Limited; Raunds; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Company bonus

Pension scheme

25 days holiday

Staff discount

Employee Assistance Programme

Rewards events

Training & mentoring

Job summary

Howdens Joinery Limited seeks a Graduate CAD Systems Analyst to support CAD and plan management systems, working with experienced analysts and mentors. You will help colleagues across the business, build technical and analytical skills, and contribute to evaluating and improving system performance.

You will provide first-line support, logs incidents, assists with testing, documentation and routine admin, while learning about depot operations and customer journeys.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in a technology discipline.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Clear communication, written and verbal.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.
• Willingness to learn and ask for guidance when needed.
• Experience with CAD software or related design systems is a plus.
• Experience from internship or university projects is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provide first-line support for CAD and plan management incidents and requests.
• Help depot users troubleshoot system issues and advise on general use.
• Log, manage, and update incidents via the IT Service Management tool.
• Escalate complex issues to CAD System Analysts or Lead Analyst.
• Assist with routine system administration and operations.
• Test software enhancements, bug fixes and upgrades.
• Maintain technical docs, knowledge articles, and user guides.
• Participate in root-cause investigations and problem solving.
• Support system performance monitoring and identify potential issues.
• Collaborate with Technology teams, suppliers and business users.
• Build knowledge of CAD systems, depot operations and customer journeys.
• Contribute ideas to improve service, efficiency and ways of working.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Communication

Teamwork

Curiosity/learning

Customer service mindset

Education

Bachelor's or equivalent in a tech discipline

Tools

CAD software knowledge

IT Service Management tools

APIs & integrations basics

Job description

Ready to kickstart your career in technology? At Howdens, our Graduate CAD Systems Analyst will support the systems behind our CAD and plan management services. You will work alongside experienced analysts, help colleagues across the business and build your technical, analytical and problem-solving skills through hands‑on training and mentoring.

What you'll be doing

• Providing first-line support for CAD and plan management system incidents, service requests and user enquiries
• Helping depot users troubleshoot system issues and supporting general system use
• Logging, managing and updating incidents and requests through our IT Service Management tool
• Escalating more complex issues to CAD System Analysts or the Lead CAD Systems Analyst
• Supporting routine system administration and operational activities
• Helping test software enhancements, bug fixes and system upgrades
• Maintaining technical documentation, knowledge articles, user guides and support procedures
• Taking part in root-cause investigations and problem‑solving activities
• Supporting system performance monitoring and helping identify potential issues
• Working collaboratively with Technology teams, suppliers and business users
• Building your knowledge of CAD systems, depot operations and customer journeys
• Contributing ideas that improve service, efficiency and ways of working

Am I eligible for this Graduate CAD Systems Analyst opportunity?

• Hold a degree, or equivalent qualification, in a relevant technology discipline
• Have strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Communicate clearly and confidently, both verbally and in writing
• Be comfortable working independently and as part of a team
• Be curious, proactive and keen to learn, while asking for guidance when needed
• Be committed to providing excellent customer service to technical and non-technical users
• Knowledge of CAD software, design systems, databases, integrations, APIs or IT Service Management tools would be helpful, but is not essential
• Experience gained through an internship, placement, university project or similar activity would be advantageous

Unfortunately, sponsorship is not available for this role. To be considered, you must already have the right to work in the UK without requiring visa sponsorship now or in the future.

The role is based onsite at our office in Raunds, Northamptonshire with some travel to our other site in Northampton. Some travel will be expected therefore a full UK driving licence is required.

What we can offer you

• Competitive salary and annual company bonus
• Excellent pension scheme with a company contribution of up to 12%
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, with the option to buy additional days
• Staff discount
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Exceptional Reward and Recognition events
• On-the-job training, mentoring and support from experienced CAD Systems colleagues

About Howdens

Howdens Joinery is a highly successful FTSE 100 business, with more than 900 depots nationwide and more than 11,000 staff. Last year our sales reached circa 2.3bn, and we continue to experience significant growth and success. Despite our scale, Howdens remains a local business with traditional values. 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. 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.

Please note that candidates applying for this role must have a valid right to work in the UK, we do not offer sponsorship of employment for any depot positions at this time. We appreciate your understanding.

Discover your next role with us and see how you can fit into one of the UK’s best big companies to work for. As a proud member of The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers, we offer exciting opportunities for both apprentices starting out and experienced professionals ready to take the next step in their careers.

Whether you’re working in our depots, building strong relationships with our trade customers, or applying your expertise to create, manufacture and distribute our market‑leading products, there are many roles that make Howdens a success.

Find out more about what makes our Depots tick.

Howdens is the UK’s number one specialist kitchen supplier, trusted by the trade since 1995. From just 14 depots when we started, we’ve grown to nearly 950 across the UK and Europe, and we’re still growing.

At Howdens, our people are at the heart of everything we do. Whether in our depots, manufacturing sites, or support teams, everyone plays a vital role in helping us grow, innovate, and make a difference.

We work exclusively with trade professionals, giving them the products, service, and support they need to deliver kitchens fitted to the highest standard. By building strong partnerships with local tradespeople, we help them exceed their customers’ expectations, and in turn, we all succeed together. Our success is built on a simple but powerful model: locally empowered depot teams backed by a world‑class supply chain. This means we can keep products in stock, provide exceptional service, and deliver real value to our customers every day.