[9] Chandradathan started his career in 1972, by joining the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) where he worked for the SLV-3 project, the development of solid propellant formulations.

During this period, his team developed the flex nozzle for the S200 motor and the S200 booster for the GSLV Mk-III project.

[9][11][12] During his tenure as the Director, Chandradathan is reported to have contributed to the improvement of production levels of solid boosters.

[9] In January 2013, he became the Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC),[13] which controlled the Thiruvananthapuram, Mahendragiri and Bangalore campuses of the ISRO.

[8] In May 2016, the Government of Kerala appointed MC Dathan as the scientific advisor to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.