Svetlana Dogotaru was born in 1962 in a village in Floreşti district of Moldova. She studied architecture at Chişinău Polytechnic Institute between 1980 and 1985. Upon graduation, she received a position of an engineer at Făleşti district council, and was soon promoted to the head of planning, prospect, and services. In 1999, she became the chief architect of Făleşti. As the founder of NGO Institute for Urban Development, she has since been engaged in urban planning and construction regulations. Since 2019, she has been the chief architect of Chişinău. In 2019, she briefly also occupied a position in the government of Moldova.