In a career spanning over three decades, Dr. Subramanian has held various positions in Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore viz., Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Dean, and Professor during the period 1968 to 2004. He was Professor, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay from 1978 - 1979; Secretary, Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology from 2001 - 2004; Additional Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Ecology and Environment, Govt. of Karnataka from 1981 - 82 and a Visiting Faculty, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (1983 - 1987); Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok (1988); University of Manchester, Manchester, (1974 - 1975); and Visiting Professor, M.K. University, Madurai (1987-1994.)

Presently, he is Hon. President, Foundation for Advancement of Education and Research (FAER), Bangalore; Advisor (Technology) Indian Bank, Corporation Bank and Punjab National Bank; TEQIP Auditor and Mentor for National Institutes of Technology at Rourkela, Allahabad, Jalandhar, Tiruchirappalli, Bhopal Surat, Jaipur, Calicut, Nagpur; and Expert Member, AICTE Teams.

He has developed several new research areas like computer methods in power systems, performance analysis of operating system, scheduling in O.S., data mining, transactions processing, renewable energy systems, carrying capacity and sustainable development modelling, He has handled several major projects at IISc, for Governments (State and Central), Industries and Institutions on Total Solutions; Advised several industries, institutions, Govt. Departments, Banks on Computerization, Software Development, Networking, Electrical Systems; and has over 200 publications.

Dr. Subramanian is a M.E. (Power Systems) and Ph.D (Computers) from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.