LoRaWAN IoT Engineer — Canal Telemetry Pilot (Contract)

We're Cropminster, and we're running a pilot to bring real-time telemetry to a canal network using LoRaWAN. We need an experienced IoT/embedded engineer to take this from concept to working data in the field — this is not a theoretical design exercise, we need live sensor data flowing. WHAT WE NEED DELIVERED: A live or near-live data feed from 1-2 pilot sensor points on the canal (water level, flow, or temperature) A basic dashboard or structured data output with timestamped readings A coverage map showing gateway placement along the targeted canal stretch A short reliability report covering packet loss, signal strength, and battery health SCOPE OF WORK: Set up a LoRaWAN network: gateway configuration, network server setup (ChirpStack, The Things Stack, or similar), and node provisioning Plan the RF link and gateway/antenna placement, accounting for obstructions like bridges, embankments, and vegetation along the waterway Integrate sensors (flow, level, temperature, or pressure) with LoRa-enabled nodes, including power management for solar or battery operation Handle embedded firmware work (C/C++ on STM32, ESP32, or similar) for sensor polling, sleep cycles, and transmission scheduling Get telemetry flowing into a simple, visible output — dashboard, spreadsheet feed, or API Manage field deployment: weatherproof enclosures, mounting near or over water, and on-site troubleshooting SKILLS REQUIRED: Proven LoRa/LoRaWAN deployment experience, ideally in outdoor or remote settings, not just general IoT projects Embedded systems and low-power hardware background Comfortable working hands-on in the field, not desk-only Strong communication — we'd rather get a heads-up about a blocker early than a surprise later HOW WE WORK: We're moving quickly on this pilot and prefer frequent, informal check-ins over long written reports — a quick message with photos or a screenshot of live data goes a long way. We're hands-off on the technical approach and trust you to flag tradeoffs, but we do want visibility into progress at each milestone (gateway live, first node reporting, coverage mapped, reliability report). In your proposal, please include examples of past LoRaWAN deployments (especially outdoor or remote sites), your approach to RF link planning for a linear site like a canal, and your estimated timeline to get one working sensor node reporting live data.