Madhuri Raya has been appointed Global Head, AI & Engineering and Technology Capability Center at Syneos Health, taking on a leadership mandate as the biopharmaceutical solutions company expands its AI-enabled technology strategy. Syneos Health said Raya will help scale the engineering capabilities supporting its growing AI ecosystem and translate technology innovation into practical solutions for the life sciences industry.
Raya brings more than two decades of experience across software engineering, product engineering, cloud-native technologies, AI and machine-learning-enabled solutions, and global engineering leadership. She joins Syneos Health after a significant tenure at Optum, where she most recently served as Vice President of Software Engineering.
During her time at Optum, Raya progressed through several senior technology positions, including Director of Product Engineering, Senior Director – Product Engineering, and Vice President of Software Engineering. Her work at the organisation included leading engineering teams and developing technology capabilities within the healthcare ecosystem.
Before joining Optum, Raya spent more than five years at UnitedHealth Group, where she held the positions of Engineering Manager and Senior Engineering Manager. This experience further strengthened her background in healthcare technology, engineering management and the development of technology solutions for complex business environments.
Earlier in her career, Raya worked with the Robert Bosch Research and Technology Center, where she started as a Software Engineer before progressing to Senior Research Engineer. She spent more than a decade with the organisation, building a strong technical and research foundation before moving into progressively senior engineering leadership roles.
At Syneos Health, Raya will focus on scaling engineering capabilities behind the company’s AI ecosystem. Her mandate will bring together AI, engineering and technology capabilities to support Syneos Health’s broader strategy of using technology to improve agility, precision and intelligence across the challenges faced by its customers.
Her appointment comes as Syneos Health continues to increase the role of artificial intelligence and advanced technology across clinical development and commercialisation. The company has been expanding AI-enabled capabilities designed to support areas including clinical operations and drug development, making technology leadership an increasingly important part of its strategy.
Raya’s appointment also adds to Syneos Health’s growing AI leadership structure. The company has been strengthening its technology and AI capabilities as it works to integrate advanced technologies into its operations and help biopharmaceutical customers address complex challenges more efficiently.
In her new position, Raya will therefore combine her experience in engineering leadership, AI-enabled solutions and healthcare technology with Syneos Health’s broader technology agenda. Her background across Optum, UnitedHealth Group and Robert Bosch gives her experience spanning technical research, product engineering and large-scale technology leadership.
