Shri M Natarajan has a B.Tech Degree in   Mechanical Engineering from IIT Chennai and M.Tech Degree in Mechanical Engineering with specialisation in Engineering Design in IIT Mumbai. He joined the Defence Research & Development Organisation in 1970. He additionally holds a Master of Science Degree in Military Vehicles Technology obtained from the RMCS, UK in 1975.

Shri M. Natarajan has worked for over 30 years on several important project assignments relating to the design and development of tracked vehicles. He has been associated with MBT-Arjun programme since its inception.  He took over the overall responsibility of development of the MBT Arjun in the capacity of Programme Director in 1987. He assumed charge as Director of the CVRDE on 01 December 1989. The continued hard work and innovative design approach and dedication of the highest order exhibited by Shri Natarajan and his team for over two decades resulted in India having an indigenous state of art Main Battle Tank Arjun and self propelled gun system BHIM.

Shri Natarajan received  Best Scientist Award for the year 1994 from the Hon'ble Minister of State of Defence, Shri Mallikarjun,  for his personal contributions to the success of MBT Arjun. His laboratory was selected as the Best Systems Engineering Laboratory for the year 1995, for which he received the Rolling Silicon Trophy from the Hon'ble Prime Minister. He was also awarded the National Design Award in 1996 for his outstanding professional excellence by the Institution of Engineers (India). He was made Distinguished Scientist in DRDO wef 12 Mar 1999.

He was serving in the capacity of CC R&D (ACE) at DRDO HQ looking after Armaments, Combat vehicles and Engineering equipment wef July 2000. During this period, he ensured acceptance of Pinaka MBRLS developed by ARDE, by Army through exhaustive field tests.

He became a Fellow of Indian National Academy of Engg. with effect from Dec. 2001.

He received the award of Padam Shri from the Honourable President of India in 2003 for his contributions to the design and development of Combat Vehicles.

He was awarded Technology Leadership Award for 2003 by DRDO for his contributions to the design and development of Combat vehicles and Mechanical Systems for LCA.

He has also been made Distinguished Alumni of IIT Madras wef Dec 2003.