Dr Muthunayagam, after his early education ,BE from University of Madras and ME from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore did his PhD from Purdue University, USA. He joined ISRO in 1966 and contributed extensively to the development of Propulsion Technologies. He had held several important technical leadership positions at Vikram Sharabhai Space Centre.

Dr Muthunayagam was the founder director of Liquid Propulsion System Centre (LPSC) of ISRO and held the position from 1985 to 1995 wherein he articulated the development of the center which became the lead center of ISRO for development of all types of liquid propulsion systems required for ISRO's launch vehicles and spacecrafts. He is known as the father of Propulsion Technology in India because of his outstanding contributions to the development of Propulsion Technology.

Dr Muthunayagam was the Secretary for the Department of Ocean Development, government of India from 1995 to 2001, Director/ Founder Vice Chancellor of Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences (2001 to 2004), Chairman-Armament Research Board, Ministry of Defence, Government of India (1997-2001), Executive Vice President-Kerala State Council for Science and Technology and Environment (2005 to 2007), Chairman Board of Governors, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (2005 to 2008), Pro Chancellor, Noorul Islam University (2009-2012) and Chairman, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority-Kerala (2011-2013).
Dr Muthunayagam is a fellow of Astronautical Society of India (ASI), Aeronaurtical Society of India (Ae SI), Indian National Academy of Engineers (INAE),Institution of India (FIE). He has to his credit several awards which include Dr V M Ghatage award (1995) Institution of Engineers (India), National award for life time achievement in Ocean Science and Technology (2007) from Ministry of Earth Sciences, ISRO outstanding achievement award (2008) and Aryabhata award 2010 for his life time contribution in the area of Propulsion Technology and its significance for the country's launch vehicle growth and development.

Presently, Dr Muthunayagam is the Advisor, Noorul Islam Center for Higher Education and the Program Director for the nano-satellite NIUSAT, being developed by Noorul Islam University under ISRO Student Satellite Program. NIUSAT is designed for land observations to support the Disaster Management Services and Agriculture Development Applications.