Seattle, WA | (512) 633-8742 | brent@brentpayton.com | linkedin.com/in/brent-payton
Senior Hardware Test Engineer with 30 years of experience leading complex validation efforts across server, storage, and cloud platforms. Expert in Linux, benchmarking, debugging, and applying AI-driven automation to accelerate analysis and reporting. Proven success collaborating with vendors, ODMs, and cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality, production-ready hardware solutions.
Linux server configuration for database workloads
Benchmarking and AI-assisted performance analysis
Bug discovery, tracking, and closure
Debugging and root cause analysis
Python and Bash automation
Vendor, ODM, and stakeholder engagement
Senior Hardware Test Engineer | Sep 2018 - Present
Configuring server and storage hardware and running automated benchmarks on both bare metal servers and VMs from GCP, Azure, and AWS. Leading multiple concurrent projects including server platforms, NVMe storage, Pure storage appliances, and NICs. Intel Xeon and AMD EPYC platforms.
Benchmarking new firmware releases for server platforms, SSDs, NICs, and others to ensure changes do not cause performance or stability problems in production
Automating processes and analysis tools in Python and Bash, leveraging AI for code creation and optimization
Collaborating on cross-functional teams to characterize and resolve production issues across hardware, firmware, and software
Interpreting and communicating benchmark results by authoring reports that influence multi-million-dollar purchasing decisions
Leading the use of AI to analyze and visualize complex data for inclusion in test reports
Using the ServiceNow platform for issue tracking, test effort execution, and recording benchmark artifacts
Senior Hardware Test Engineer | Dec 2013 - Mar 2018
Ensured product quality by managing test case execution, triaging and tracking bugs to closure, and communicating progress to stakeholders.
Driving high product quality through in-house and Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) validation of Windows Cloud Server hardware, supporting on-time product releases
Serving as the hardware validation point of contact for Taiwan-based ODMs and industry partners including Intel and Mellanox
Enhancing ODM test execution by reviewing plans, providing feedback, and sharing best practices
Expanding a test case library in Team Foundation Services (TFS), leading to hundreds of new test cases and improving validation rigor
Test Senior Engineer | May 2012 - Dec 2013
Managing test efforts for hardware, firmware, and software; supervised test teams of up to 10 engineers. Negotiating phase transitions and coordinating with internal and external partners.
Collaborating across internal teams and ODM partners to meet business objectives, often within rigid schedules due to product release deadlines
Designing a requirements management process in TFS to enable comprehensive testing and root cause identification before release
Improving quality by leading test efforts for enterprise-class servers and storage products
Partnering with PowerEdge support teams to improve validation support agent readiness
Earlier Roles: (1996–2012):
Progressed through 10+ engineering and analyst positions, including Test Engineer II, Program Analyst, and Senior Technician roles.
Responsibilities included hardware validation, test execution, and cross‑team collaboration.
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