IoT Engineer for Water-Saving Solutions

About the Project: We are a startup developing an innovative smart water-saving system exclusively for the hospitality sector. Our product combines Artificial Intelligence (developed in-house) with physical devices installed directly into the hotel's water network. The Challenge: We are looking for a freelance IoT Engineer or Systems Integrator to lead our hardware architecture. Our strategy is not to build PCBs from scratch, but rather to source existing commercial components (primarily from the Asian market) and integrate them seamlessly with our cloud and AI. Your Responsibilities: Technical Sourcing: Evaluate and select flow sensors, actuators, and motorized valves from international suppliers, ensuring they meet commercial/industrial grade standards to withstand continuous use in a hotel environment. Connectivity & Protocols: Ensure the selected hardware "talks" to our software using open protocols (MQTT, LoRaWAN, Zigbee, REST API, etc.), strictly avoiding locked-in manufacturer ecosystems (like Tuya or Smart Life). Specification Validation: Deep dive into datasheets to confirm electrical compatibility, waterproof ratings (IP67/IP68), and safety/compliance certifications (CE/RoHS). Integration Design: Define the physical connection between components and design an architecture that allows hotel maintenance staff to perform a quick, non-invasive installation (plug & play approach). The Ideal Profile: Solid, demonstrable experience in Internet of Things (IoT) projects and integrating third-party hardware. Deep understanding of telecommunications and data transmission from physical edge devices to the cloud. Highly Valued Bonus: Basic understanding of hydraulics, fluid mechanics, or plumbing standards (threads, pressures) to ensure the hardware fits flawlessly into real-world plumbing systems. Project Conditions: 100% remote and flexible work. Part-time freelance contract (based on weekly hours or agreed-upon milestones). You will work closely with the founding and software teams to align the physical hardware with the "brain" of our AI. To Apply, Please Include: A brief summary of a similar project where you successfully integrated commercial/off-the-shelf hardware with a custom software system. Which IoT communication protocols you would typically recommend for a complex indoor environment like a large hotel.