Brent Kenneth Payton

Seattle, WA (512) 633-8742 brent@brentpayton.com linkedin.com/in/brent-payton

Senior Hardware Test Engineer

Proven leader with 20+ years of experience driving complex hardware validation for enterprise-class servers,

storage, and networking. Skilled at guiding teams through full validation cycles, partnering with vendors

and OEMs, and ensuring robust customer experiences. Known for cross-functional inuence, automation

expertise, and turning test results into business-critical decisions.

Key Skills

• Hardware validation and benchmarking

• Bug discovery, tracking, and closure (TFS, ServiceNow)

• Automation (Python, Bash)

• Firmware and component benchmarking (SATA, NVMe, NICs, SSDs)

• Vendor and ODM engagement (Intel, AMD, Mellanox, Pure Storage)

• RedHat Enterprise Linux

• Test case design and validation management

Professional Experience

ServiceNow — Kirkland, WA

Senior Hardware Test Engineer | Sept 2018 – Present

• Led validation of enterprise-class servers and storage across Intel Xeon and AMD EPYC platforms.

• Benchmarked new rmware releases for servers, SSDs, NICs, and storage appliances to mitigate

performance and stability risks.

• Produced benchmark reports that drove multi-million-dollar purchasing decisions.

• Automated benchmarking, and log analysis using Python and Bash, reducing test cycle time.

• Collaborated with vendors and internal teams to address issues and ensure timely resolution.

Microsoft — Redmond, WA

Senior Hardware Test Engineer | Dec 2013 – Mar 2018

• Owned validation of Windows Cloud Server hardware from ODMs and in-house teams, ensuring

reliable, on-time launches.

• Coordinated bug triage and closure, delivering clear communication of risks and progress to stake-

holders.

• Strengthened ODM test execution through best practices feedback, raising overall validation rigor.

• Expanded and maintained a large-scale test case library in TFS, leading a team that created hun-

dreds of new cases.

• Acted as primary validation point of contact with Taiwan-based ODMs and major hardware partners.

Dell — Round Rock, TX

Lead Test Engineer | Sept 2005 – Dec 2013

• Directed test teams (up to 10 engineers), managing schedules, bug triage, escalation, and cross-

functional coordination.

• Championed validation for enterprise servers and storage systems, ensuring quality before produc-

tion shipments.

• Negotiated with vendors and internal engineering teams to align development priorities with customer

needs.