She is a specialist of Advanced Launch Vehicle Technology. She had joined Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) Thiruvananthapuram. in 1988. She led a team which designed rocket control an guidance systems.
She has worked with various ISRO rockets including the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV), Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV). She has been a part of over 100 space missions.
She will lead the Gaganyaan mission as the Director of the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme which is intended to send Indian astronauts in the space by 2022.
She was awarded the Space Gold Medal (2001), ISRO Individual Merit Award and ISRO Performance Excellence Award (2013).