Pennoni’s Employee Spotlight series gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the talented individuals who make our company thrive. Each month, we highlight a team member’s journey, passion for engineering and innovation, and unique impact at Pennoni.
This month we’re featuring Dipti Raja, PE, LEED Green Associate, ENV SP who is a Project Manager at Pennoni, where she has been since 2017. She has more than nine years of experience in civil engineering, with a primary focus on municipal engineering and additional experience in private site development. Her experience includes roadway and streetscape improvements, stormwater management, site development, planning and zoning reviews, municipal infrastructure, permitting, and construction administration and inspection.
In her current role, Dipti manages municipal projects through the various stages of project development, including initial planning, scope and budget development, funding coordination, design, permitting, regulatory approvals, bidding, and construction. She also provides technical review and engineering support to municipalities during planning and zoning board proceedings and coordinates with clients, contractors, regulatory agencies, and other project stakeholders.
Dipti is a Professional Engineer and holds LEED Green Associate and ENV SP certifications. Her experience includes projects involving NJDEP and NJDOT requirements, municipal capital improvement programs, stormwater management, and infrastructure design and construction.
A key part of your role includes working with municipalities on stormwater management reviews and providing technical input during planning and zoning board meetings. What are some of the biggest challenges communities face today, and how do you help guide projects from concept through approval?
One of the biggest challenges municipalities face today is balancing growth with responsible stormwater management. During planning and zoning board reviews, I work closely with applicants and their engineers to identify potential issues and strengthen flood and stormwater measures before a project moves forward. The goal is to make sure projects meet regulatory requirements while also protecting the community long-term.
For municipal projects, I’m involved from the initial concept through completion—from developing the scope and budget and pursuing funding, to coordinating design, permitting, and construction administration. During construction, I help oversee progress, address field issues, review contractor submissions and pay applications, and keep the project moving toward completion. I enjoy being involved throughout the entire process and helping municipalities deliver projects that are practical, well-managed, and beneficial to the community.
You’ve been with Pennoni for several years. Looking back, what experiences or opportunities have had the biggest impact on your growth as an engineer?
Pennoni has been a big part of my growth as an engineer, and I’ve had the opportunity to take on increasing levels of responsibility throughout my time here. Having direct client interaction and managing projects has been especially valuable because it has challenged me to think beyond the technical side of engineering and take ownership of the bigger picture.
I’ve also had the opportunity to work with different teams and take on new types of projects, with the support and guidance to make those opportunities successful. I appreciate that Pennoni encourages engineers to bring new ideas to the table, be creative, and take on challenges. That combination of responsibility, collaboration, and freedom to grow has had the biggest impact on me professionally.
You hold certifications including PE, LEED Green Associate, and ENV SP, reflecting a strong focus on sustainability. How do you incorporate sustainable design practices into your projects and decision-making process?
My LEED Green Associate and ENV SP certifications have helped broaden my perspective and recognize opportunities to incorporate sustainable practices early in the planning and design process. On capital road improvement projects, I’ve incorporated green infrastructure such as rain gardens, and I’ve also been involved in a town-wide flood study where we looked at opportunities to incorporate green infrastructure on a broader scale.
I also try to bring that perspective to how we operate as a company. I was involved in Pennoni’s 2020–2025 strategic growth plan and helped develop a company-wide database of sustainable projects by coordinating with office directors across our offices. Even things like encouraging digital submissions and bid documents contribute to that mindset. Ultimately, I think sustainability is most effective when it becomes part of how we approach projects and make decisions, rather than being treated as a separate initiative.
Your experience spans both design and construction inspection for capital improvement and site development projects. How does having hands-on experience in both areas shape your approach to engineering and project delivery?
I think having experience on both the design and construction sides gives me a better understanding of how a project comes together from start to finish. Being involved in construction has helped me see what works in the field, where challenges can arise, and how design decisions can affect the project once it is being built.
It has also taught me to pay attention to the things that didn’t go as planned and learn from them. I try to carry those lessons into future projects, whether that means making a design more practical, anticipating a construction issue earlier, or simply approaching a problem differently. That experience has shaped how I look at projects and make decisions throughout the process.
For engineers interested in municipal and site design, what advice would you give to someone starting their career in this field?
My biggest advice would be to stay curious and get involved in as many parts of a project as you can. Don’t limit yourself to just the design work—go to construction sites, sit in on client meetings, understand the permitting process, and see how decisions made during design play out in the field.
I’d also say don’t be afraid to ask questions or take on something new, even if you don’t have all the answers right away. A lot of growth comes from being willing to learn from the people around you, taking ownership of your work, and learning from both the things that go well and the things that don’t.