Cold Email Deliverability & Infrastructure Specialist (Instantly.ai) — Needed ASAP

We run a B2B outreach program and are launching a large invitation campaign on Instantly.ai. We need an experienced cold email infrastructure specialist to design, build, and warm up our sending domain and mailbox pool. We're prioritizing a lean, well-managed setup over raw speed — we'd rather run fewer domains for longer than manage a sprawling pool. Mailbox warmup takes 2–3 weeks before any real sending starts, so we need someone who can start immediately. Note on scope: We'll provide the email copy and our target sequencing/cadence for the campaign — this role is focused on domain/mailbox infrastructure, warmup, and deliverability, not copywriting or campaign strategy. Scope of Volume We're sending to three lower-confidence contact tiers (Best Guess, Generic, and Gmail-sourced) across three separate list segments, sent sequentially through the same domain/mailbox pool: Segment Contacts (these 3 tiers) Segment A ~40,000 Segment B ~62,000 Segment C ~19,000 We're open to your recommendation on how to size the domain/mailbox pool and pace the sends given this volume — we're comfortable trading a longer overall timeline for a smaller, easier-to-manage footprint. What We Need Help With Domain & mailbox strategy: Recommend how many sacrificial sending domains and mailboxes we should run, and what send pace/timeline that supports, given the volume above and our preference for a lean setup Domain & DNS setup: We'll purchase sacrificial sending domains through Instantly's built-in domain provisioning — you'll configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC correctly on each Mailbox provisioning: Set up and connect mailboxes into Instantly.ai Warmup management: Configure and monitor Instantly's warmup settings (daily limits, ramp schedule, reply rates) to get mailboxes to safe sending reputation before go-live Deliverability monitoring: Set up Google Postmaster Tools and/or placement testing to verify real inbox placement (not just Instantly's internal warmup score) before go-live Sending cadence configuration: Configure daily/campaign sending limits per mailbox and per campaign inside Instantly to support our target sequencing (we'll provide the cadence) Ongoing QA during launch: Monitor bounce rates, spam complaint rates, and inbox placement throughout the send, and recommend pausing/adjusting if thresholds are breached Ideal Experience Proven hands-on experience with Instantly.ai specifically (not just cold email in general) Experience designing and managing sending domain/mailbox pools for cold outreach, and making sound calls on sizing them Strong understanding of SPF/DKIM/DMARC configuration and troubleshooting Experience with Google Postmaster Tools or other inbox placement verification Track record managing deliverability for large B2B outreach lists (50k+ contacts) over sustained send periods Comfortable proposing and standing behind a recommended approach rather than just executing a fixed spec Compensation Hourly, open to freelancers worldwide — we're especially hoping to connect with strong APAC-based candidates given budget. Target range: $12–20/hr, based on experience and portfolio. Hours will be front-loaded: expect roughly 15–20 hrs/week during the first month (domain/DNS setup, mailbox provisioning, warmup configuration and monitoring), tapering to a lighter 3–6 hrs/week once sending is live and stable (ongoing monitoring of bounce/complaint rates and inbox placement, occasional troubleshooting). Timeline Immediate start required Domain/mailbox provisioning and warmup must be underway within the first few days Exact send timeline will depend on your recommended domain/mailbox sizing — open to your proposal To Apply Please include: A brief summary of a similar-scale project you've run (domain/mailbox count, list size, platform used) Your recommended domain and mailbox count for our volume above, and the send timeline that supports Your hourly rate and availability