Power PDN Test Engineer

Pentangle Tech Services | P5 Group; Washington (Washington County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Pentangle Tech Services | P5 Group seeks a Power PDN Test Engineer to validate power delivery for Microsoft Surface products in a vendor/consulting setup. You'll perform bench measurements, capture data to templates, and deliver initial debug analyses under the Microsoft Surface Power DVSE owner.

Responsibilities include executing component- to system-level tests, operating advanced test equipment, and developing Python automation to scale test runs, with weekly status reporting and strict

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on motherboard-level power delivery validation experience on consumer electronics or compute platforms.
• Demonstrated execution of validation against OEM-supplied test orders or SOPs, including formal test data delivery.
• Hands-on proficiency with oscilloscopes (1 GHz+), probes, electronic loads, PSUs, SMUs, and DAQ systems.
• Python (or equivalent) scripting for test automation and extending an automation framework.
• Experience debugging power delivery and power management issues to defendable first-pass hypotheses.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering or related field; or equivalent demonstrated industry experience.
• Ability to read and interpret complex motherboard-level schematics and PDN block diagrams.
• Experience with software tools for log collection, driver install/sideloading, and software-side debug for power validation.
• Methodical lab discipline: ESD-safe practices, daily SMU calibration, fixture handling, and per-DUT traceability.

Responsibilities

• Execute power delivery validation per Microsoft test orders and SOPs, covering component to system-level validation.
• Operate bench equipment for power characterization (SMUs, scopes, probes, loads, PSUs, DAQ).
• Capture, structure, and deliver test data using Microsoft templates; maintain per-DUT traceability and calibration logs.
• Provide first-pass debug analysis on anomalies and escalate root-cause with supporting data.
• Extend or build Python automation under Microsoft direction to scale test execution.
• Deliver weekly written status reports covering test progress, schedule risk, equipment issues, and open items.

Skills

Power delivery validation

Python scripting

Technical writing

Schematic reading

Root-cause analysis

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering or related field

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Passive probes

Active probes

Differential probes

Current probes

Electronic loads

Programmable PSUs/SMUs

DAQ systems

Job description

• :We are seeking a Power PDN Test Engineer to execute power delivery validation on Microsoft Surface products as part of a vendor or consulting engagement. In this role, you will run electrical characterization at the bench, capture and report data per Microsoft test orders and standard operating procedures and provide first-pass debug analysis. You will work under the direction of the Microsoft Surface Power DVSE engineering owner

.Scope of Wor

• k
  Execute power delivery validation per Microsoft test orders and standard operating procedures, covering Component level tests to qualify all DC-DC solutions by testing parameters like output regulation, ripple, transient response, efficiency, SW node etc. And system level power delivery validation of leakages in different power states, point of load voltage noise test, system max load & brownout prevention tests, UVLO characterization, and low power measurement
• s.Operate bench equipment for power characterization, including SMUs, oscilloscopes (1 GHz or higher), passive, active, differential and current probes, electronic loads, programmable supplies, and DAQ system
• s.Capture, structure, and deliver test data using Microsoft-supplied templates; maintain per-DUT traceability and calibration logs throughout the engagemen
• t.Provide first-pass debug analysis on observed anomalies and elevate root-cause work to the Microsoft engineering owner with supporting dat
• a.Extend or build Python automation under Microsoft direction to scale test execution and improve repeatabilit
• y.Deliver weekly written status reports covering test progress, schedule risk, equipment issues, and open items requiring Microsoft decisio

n.Qualifications: Minimum Requirement

• s:
  5+ years of hands-on motherboard-level power delivery validation experience on consumer electronics or compute platfor
• ms.Demonstrated execution of validation against OEM-supplied test orders or standard operating procedures, including formal test data delive
• ry.Hands-on proficiency with oscilloscopes (1 GHz or higher), passive, active, differential and current probes, electronic loads, programmable PSUs, SMUs, and DAQ syste
• ms.Python (or equivalent) scripting for test automation, including ability to extend an existing automation framework provided by Microso
• ft.Experience debugging power delivery and power management issues to a defendable first-pass hypothesis with supporting waveforms and measuremen
• ts.Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field; or equivalent demonstrated industry experien
• ce.Ability to read and interpret complex motherboard-level schematics and PDN block diagra
• ms.Experience with software tools for log collection, driver install or sideloading, and software-side debug in support of power validati
• on.Methodical lab discipline: ESD-safe practices, daily SMU calibration check-ins, fixture handling, and per-DUT serial-number traceabili
• ty.Strong written reporting in English; able to deliver vendor test reports to OEM quality standards, plus clear verbal communication for daily standups and debug sessio

ns.Preferred Requiremen

• ts:Prior vendor or consulting engagement with a consumer electronics OEM (for example: Microsoft, Apple, Google, Samsung, Dell, HP, or Lenov
• o).Power management validation experience on Intel and Qualcomm SoC platforms and battery charging syste
• ms.Experience validating power delivery across subsystems such as RF, display, audio, storage, sensors, camera, memory, keyboard, touchpad, and hapti
• cs.Working knowledge of common power supply topologies including SMPS, LDO, and load switch architectures, and of computer architecture and SoC validation concep
• ts.Understanding of power supply design including PCB layout considerations and PDN optimization tradeoffs (helpful for debug context, not required for executio
• n).Understanding of Windows power management and system power states (Modern Standby, S0ix, S3, S4, S
• 5).Self-directed; comfortable executing with minimal supervision once test orders are issued, and disciplined at written handoff back to the Microsoft engineering own
• er.Hardware troubleshooting and board-level rework skills, to root-cause and repair rework-induced device fault conditions (for example: shorts, opens, missing or mis-oriented components, cold solder joints, lifted pads on test point