Yesterday, several job listings emerged to indicate that Microsoft be working on a slim version of its Xbox One console. Other listing haves since emerged to further substantiate the existence or at least the development of the Xbox One Slim.
A listing for an Xbox Power Supply Design Verification Engineer outlines duties which include “design verification and qualification of the Xbox power supply at the component, and system levels.” One of the qualifications includes, “Experience in hardware prototype bring-up, debug, fault detection, failure analysis, and yield improvement.”
Another listing for an Xbox CAD Librarian has a role whose “primary focal point for leading library development activities, working very close to electrical engineers, DFM, DFT, and component engineers to ensure high reliability of the library.” Furthermore, the candidate will be “responsible for developing and maintaining the CAD library including create PCB and schematic symbols and managing CAD data in the PLM system.”
If you look closely at the qualifications, you’ll find that Microsoft is looking for “Knowledge of high volume consumer electronics design and manufacturing is desired” and that “design for assembly is a plus.” You’ll also need to be able to travel both across the country and abroad obviously.
Finally, there’s a requirement for an Xbox System Engineer which requires skills maintaining multiple products and managing issues across multiple teams. Some of the requirements include, “Skills in hardware and software engineering such as USB, SATA and PCIe both at the protocol and signal level verification, voltage regulation, embedded software or digital signal processing” and “Experience in testing consumer electronics at the platform, product line, product, sub-assembly and component levels.”
The emphasis on “testing” is our own but whichever way you look at it, something’s got to give. This isn’t to say that an Xbox One Slim will be announced in the next month or so. In fact, even when rumours of the Xbox 360 Slim first emerged, it still took roughly 2 years before Microsoft actually announced the same. This could be the case for the Xbox One Slim as well.
Take this all with a grain of salt as usual and let us know whether you’d be interested in an Xbox One Slim in the coming few years.
