Mr. Atul C. Kirloskar began his career with the erstwhile Kirloskar Cummins Limited in the year 1978, where he started out as a trainee. In December 1981, he was appointed as the Chief Executive of Cummins Diesel Sales and Services.
On 1st November 1984, he was appointed as the Executive Vice President of Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited (now known as Kirloskar Industries Limited (KIL)). He was co-opted on the Board of KIL on 6th August 1985, wherein he took over as the Managing Director. In 1988, he was appointed Vice Chairman of KIL and held the position till 25th July 1998, when he was elected Chairman of the Board of KIL. He was appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited (then known as Kirloskar Engines India Limited) on 31st March 2010. He was re-designated as the Executive Chairman on 25th January 2012.