In 2014 he became executive producer and showrunner for The Expanse, an American space opera / mystery science fiction drama television series that premiered on Syfy channel in the United States in December 2015[7] and was later picked up by Amazon Prime Video,[8][9] running through January 2022.

The Expanse was widely praised for its scientific realism[10][11] and technical accuracy,[12][13] with Shankar being credited for effectively applying his knowledge of physics and engineering.

[14][15][16][17] Shankar is also serving in the same role for For All Mankind, an American TV series based on the premise that the Space Race didn't end with the conquest of the Moon because the Soviets arrived there first.

In November 2024, it was announced that new sci-fi-focused multi-platform media company Expanding Universe, which Shankar co-founded with Breck Eisner, Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, has a major development deal with Amazon MGM Studios, their first project being a television adaptation — The Captive's War series, with Shankar serving as executive producer, writer and showrunner.

He served as executive producer on CSI until 2010, and continues to write for the series, including the Trek-spoofing episode "A Space Oddity" featuring Liz Vassey, Wallace Langham, Kate Vernon, and Ronald D. Moore.