Erik Probstfield

Erik Probstfield
VIAVI VALOR Program

Erik Probstfield is a senior technology executive with extensive experience leading federally funded programs, advanced semiconductor initiatives, and complex multi-stakeholder technology deployments across government and industry. He currently serves as Senior Director of the VALOR Program at VIAVI Solutions, where he oversees the execution of a $21.7 million NTIA-funded O-RAN test and integration lab. He established a cross-functional team from scratch, standing up the physical and technical infrastructure in under nine months, and restructuring the lab design and cost structure while expanding into international lab-as-a-service engagements, including a government-backed effort in the Philippines.

Before joining VIAVI, Erik spent nearly a decade at Infineon Technologies as Senior Director of Technology Excellence and Innovation for the Americas, supporting approximately $6 billion in annual revenue across mission-critical applications. He managed more than 150 personnel in the U.S., Europe, and Asia and led global efforts in electrical characterization, GaN and SiC device development, ISO/TS16949 compliance, and U.S. government funding. He partnered with both commercial defense primes and government agencies on wide bandgap technology initiatives and supported early-stage adoption in power, aerospace, and security applications.

Earlier, as Executive Director at International Rectifier (later acquired by Infineon), Erik led GaN product ramp-up, manufacturing readiness, cost-reduction initiatives, and operational governance across organizations with direct engagement at the C-suite and board levels. He managed a $20 million budget and delivered measurable reductions in time-to market, defects, product cycle times, and wafer loss that translated into multimillion-dollar annual savings.

Erik’s foundational technical leadership was developed at IBM’s Server and Technology Group and Sandia National Laboratories, where he contributed to Lean manufacturing rollouts, packaging and test strategy, and large-scale process optimization initiatives linked to high-reliability and national security applications.

Beyond his corporate and government program leadership, he has supported early-stage technology development as Vice Chair of Due Diligence and Board Member for the Arizona Tech Investor Angel Group, where he was a member for over 12 years.  He has also served as a judge for the Arizona Innovation Challenge through the Arizona Commerce Authority.

Erik holds an M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Washington and a B.S. in Engineering Physics with a Mathematics minor from Pacific Lutheran University. His career reflects deep alignment with federal priorities in telecommunications security, semiconductor supply chain resilience, advanced manufacturing, and dual-use technology acceleration.