Brent Kenneth Payton
Seattle, WA   |   (512) 633-8742   |   brent AT brentpayton DOT com   |   https://linkedin.com/in/brent-payton
 
EXPERIENCED HARDWARE TEST ENGINEER
Detail-oriented, approachable, and responsible testing leader guiding teams through complex test efforts. Prioritizing quality control and consistency, analyzing development documents to generate test requirements and translate needs into test cases. Partnering with vendors, execution engineers, and managers, exhibiting cross-functional influence while emphasizing shared goals.
 
 
CORE COMPETENCIES INCLUDE
 
  • Bug Tracking
  • Product and System Testing
  • Quality Assurance
  • Test Effort Planning
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Risk Analysis
  • Innovation
  • Project Management
 
 
TECHNICAL PROFICIENCIES
 
  • Microsoft TFS/VSTS
  • Test Plan Creation / Execution
  • Configuration Management
  • ServiceNow Platform
  • Benchmarks
  • Documentation
  • Windows Server
  • Troubleshooting
  • Test Case and KB Article Authoring
  • Processes
  • Linux
 
 
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
 
ServiceNow, Kirkland, WA
Hardware Test Engineer
September 2018 - Present
 
Worked with minimal supervision to configure server hardware and run automated benchmarks. Devices tested include SATA storage, NVMe storage, NICs, and Intel Xeon CPUs.
  • Interpreted, communicated, and recorded the results of benchmarks
  • Vendor relations
  • Working in a datacenter environment
  • Using the ServiceNow platform
  • Writing KB articles
 
Microsoft, Redmond, WA
Senior Hardware Test Engineer
December 2013 - March 2018
 
Oversaw validation by managing all aspects of test cases executed and bugs reported. Triaged and tracked bugs to closure. Informed all stakeholders by communicating test effort progress, used automated reports and analysis.
  • Ensured high product quality through in-house and original device manufacturer (ODM) validation of Windows Cloud Server hardware, leading to on-time product releases.
  • Strengthened communication as hardware validation point of contact for ODMs based in Taiwan, plus industry partners, such as Intel and Mellanox.
  • Enhanced ODM test execution through review, feedback and sharing best practices, ensuring more thorough testing.
  • Improved validation rigor and efficiency by leading team to expand and maintain test case library in Team Foundation Services (TFS). Oversaw creation of hundreds of new test cases.
  • Facilitated launch of new multi-million-dollar validation lab, delivering project in time for large numbers of prototype servers to be deployed.
 
Dell, Round Rock, TX
Lead Test Engineer
September 2005 - December 2013
 
Tested hardware products and associated firmware and software. Supervised local test teams of up to 10 members, including full-time and contract employees. Negotiated test phase transitions, communicated progress, escalated issues and worked closely with internal and external (partner / vendor) development engineers.
  • Collaborated across local and remote organizations as well as ODMs to meet business goals.
  • Enabled more comprehensive testing and identified root causes of issues before product release by designing and implementing requirement management process in TFS.
  • Improved quality by leading test efforts for enterprise-class servers and storage products.
  • Contributed to strategic hiring of qualified candidates by participating in new-hire processes, including interviewing, hiring and onboarding.
  • Fielded questions from incoming staff members as subject matter expert.
 
ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Dell, Round Rock, TX
Test Execution Engineer
Technical Support Representative