Raj Pai

Chief Technologist

Raj Pai serves as Chief Technologist for the Aviation Systems Division at NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley. He leads machine learning/AI and big data research programs in support of the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) in collaboration with industry, academia, and interagency global partners.

Prior to joining NASA, Raj Pai spent more than 25 years in technology and business roles. As a domain expert in AIML, digital and cloud technologies, Pai is passionate about harnessing the power of technology solutions to solve industry challenges. As product leader at leading data companies including Teradata, Informatica, and Tibco, Intel, he and his team developed and deployed enterprise solutions across healthcare, financial services, and telecommunications. At smart grid startup, AutoGrid Inc. (acquired by Schneider Electric) he drove the effort to design and deploy internet applications for global energy service providers enabling them to harvest clean energy sources for growth and efficiency. Pai also served as CEO/founder at Claritics where he pioneered cloud-based user analytics for gaming and media.

Pai is a mentor for Data Science interns and researchers at NASA and the community. In his personal life, he is actively involved with entrepreneurs, educators, and change makers in the Bay Area and he enjoys riding his bike and is always willing to engage in a “foodie” adventure.

Pai received his Bachelor’s degree in Technology from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay; a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Hawaii, Mānoa; and a Master of Business Administration from the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley.