Sathe began his academic career as a postdoc first at University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona (1981–1985), and then at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana (1986–1988). He joined Florida State University in 1988, where he remained for the rest of his life.
Sathe embarked on his academic journey as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona from 1981 to 1985, and later moved to Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana from 1986 to 1988. He eventually settled at Florida State University, where he spent the rest of his career.