How to Hire an IoT Developer: IoT Developer Salary And Job Description

The field of Internet of Things (IoT) is gaining popularity with the speed of light. The term was first introduced in 1999 by Procter & Gamble employee Kevin Ashton. He came up with a proposal to optimize the corporation’s logistics through the use of radio frequency tags.

The introduction of IoT was successful due to the active spread of gadgets and wireless networks, reducing the cost of electronic components. IoT systems often consist of a network of “smart” units and a cloud platform. Therefore, a need has arisen for specialists who know aspects of the functioning of these systems, their structure, and strengths/weaknesses.

The global IoT industry is expected to grow quickly, from $381.3 billion in 2021 to $1,854.76 billion in 2028. Unquestionably, IoT innovations give mobile apps the chance to increase their visibility in the industry. Moreover, the statistics show there would be approximately 25.44 billion IoT-connected devices worldwide in 2030.

There are very few jobs in the IoT field, but not because no one needs such specialists. It’s just that they are usually hunted through recruiting agencies or outsourcing companies. One of them is IntelliSoft, having a rich experience in the field of development.

We at IntelliSoft are willing to share our excellent IoT solutions with you. For instance, one of our clients, a renowned Swiss producer of industrial heating systems, asked us to assist with the control and monitoring of remote heating systems using IoT devices. We gave them a dedicated workforce in addition to the unique enterprise resource planning (ERP).

Now, what exactly does an IoT job imply? Why may you need this expert? We have answers to these questions.

Who Is an IoT Developer?

An IoT engineer is a connected objects specialist who develops innovative services that help users receive, control, and manage information. They are also responsible for developing and managing a vast array of IoT devices, platforms, software, hardware, and systems through a combination of data, technology, and research.

Collecting information using IoT is one of the key trends actively developing today. To succeed, specialists must know the principles of the processes responsible for receiving, processing, storing, and using data in the future.

What Do IoT Engineers Do?

An IoT engineer is involved in development of Internet of Things solutions. Developing IoT applications involves knowledge and skills in many areas, from hardware design to network design and low-level/high-level programming languages.

Even if the specialist focuses on the development of one part of the system (it can be connected devices, networks over which they communicate, IoT platforms,applications for end users), they need to understand the principles of the rest. The responsibilities include:

• Development of solution architecture for building IoT systems
• Network design
• Development of device prototypes
• Development of app interfaces for user interaction with IoT systems
• Interaction with hardware and software vendors on technical issues
• Installation and setup of hardware and software
• Integration with related systems
• Ensuring cybersecurity of IoT systems

Here are specific duties based on the example of job vacancy:

• Apply mqtt-based software to connect IoT between the individual IoT product and the broker software.
• Manage the device software.
• Send data from mqtt broker to firebase server (server used as backend by user application)
• Restore from firebase and send back to mqtt broker.

Since the field of IoT is new and complex, an engineer has to take on some tasks that a project manager (PM) usually performs. For example, discussing solutions with the customer, preparing documentation, forming a team, and participating in the search and selection of contractors for the project.

IoT Engineers: Basic Skills

Here is the list of skills necessary for IoT developers:

• Knowledge of process analysis theory.
• Understanding of sensor devices principles.
• Knowledge of languages and development environments necessary for device prototyping: C/C++, Python, JavaScript, Arduino.
• Knowledge of languages for developing web and mobile applications for interaction with IoT devices: Java, Swift, Node.js.
• Knowledge of data exchange protocols — MQTT, CoAP, AMQP, Websocket, XMPP-IoT, REST.
• Knowledge of hardware platforms — Samsung Artik, Intel Edison, Arduino, Raspberry, BeagleBone, SparkFun, FPGA.
• Knowledge of cloud platforms — Samsung Artik Cloud, Microsoft Azure IoT Suite.
• Network design skills and knowledge of networking standards, protocols (in particular wireless protocols — BTLE, ZigBee, LPWA, 6LowPAN, Z-Wave, SigFox) and networking technologies (Wi-Fi, Low Energy Bluetooth, RFID).
• GPS programming skills.
• Understanding of cybersecurity practices for IoT solutions.

In addition, experience with SCADA systems and industrial controllers (IEC 61131–3) is encouraged for IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things).

Who And Why Needs the IoT Professionals

To collect and analyze certain information, special systems are being developed, and it is almost impossible to understand their operation without having a basic knowledge of business analytics. Companies hiring IoT professionals are looking for candidates who can design, implement, and maintain a robust and scalable data management system.

There are a number of reasons why you might wish to employ IoT developers, whether within or externally:

• You want to set up an IoT environment so that you can perform some operations.
• IoT technology can help your organization with a number of difficulties, including automating some repetitive operations to offload workers.
• Your company employs smart gadgets, which ought to cooperate or be included into a single system.
• You wish to improve your project with new features and adhere to the most recent trends.

Pros & Cons of the IoT-Architect Profession

The pros and cons of the profession stem from the great popularity of IoT architects with employers.

Pros:

• High demand.
• High salaries.
• Low competition.
• All work is intuitive.
• Opportunity to find a promising job in the developed countries.

Cons:

• Special requirements for compliance with safety regulations.
• High responsibility for expensive technology.
• Lack of unified standards in the industry.

Duties and Roles of an IoT Software Developer

IoT engineers accomplish a great variety of tasks with the primary goal of creating helpful solutions for both individuals and businesses.

AI & ML

While machine learning (ML) can be used to enhance services based on collected data, artificial intelligence (AI) can make decisions on its own.

In order to forecast the future and prevent possible problems and predict when some parts need maintenance, an IoT developer must create a system that can collect and analyze large amounts of data. They need a solid understanding of AI and ML for that.

Data Science

Big data is the engine that powers the Internet of Things, and it is the responsibility of every developer working in this space to ensure the data acquired is put to good use. Big data has gained such traction that even municipalities are beginning to explore how it might be used to generate novel solutions and address existing infrastructure issues.

Finding an Internet of Things developer that can effectively incorporate big data into the project and generate novel solutions is essential.

Mobile App Development

In order to take the setup with you, you’ll need a mobile app that can communicate with the gadgets. For this reason, you should look for an IoT developer who is also fluent in Android and iOS app creation and can facilitate remote access to your IoT system.

BI

To improve your services in an IoT system, you must gather, store, and analyze data. To make sense of data, a developer must comprehend its worth. So, employ an IoT developer that possesses the bare minimum of business acumen required to handle data.

API Automation

The operability of IoT systems determines roughly half of their value given the amounts of data and interfaces they must analyze. As a result, a developer needs to be able to link automatic API testing with manual testing.

UI/UX Design

People want user-friendly designs simple to use on desktop and mobile platforms. Your users should find the app to be user-friendly and responsive.

Because of this, before hiring an IoT developer, make sure they have a solid grasp of the UX and UI needed to create a user interface that your clients would adore.

Networking

A developer must create a network that is effective, straightforward, and can handle all the linked devices when creating a large-scale IoT project (such as an environmental monitoring system). They need to have a thorough understanding of network design in order to construct such a network. Additionally, they should be at least minimally knowledgeable about network protocols, standards, and technologies like Bluetooth,

Zigbee, etc. You might occasionally need experts who have very specialized knowledge, like how to use IoT Core.

Safety

Any significant IoT project that involves a vast network of systems and devices must integrate their data. However, this raises concerns about invasions of privacy, data loss, harmful assaults, and more.

A secure system with an impenetrable design is what a customer requires. For an IoT developer to create a system that can guard against unwanted access and data loss, they would need to have a solid understanding of digital security.

How to Hire an IoT developer: Job Description And Screening Questions

So, how should one hire an IoT engineer? First, you should see the difference between outsourcing and in-house development.

Outsourcing vs In-house Development

You must consider your desired course of action as soon as you decide what you want to get out of IoT development. Either create an internal team or work with an IoT software development company.

Reduced costs

IoT developer outsourcing helps cut costs significantly.

• Recruitment. To find the needed workforce, you don’t have to hire recruiters. You can trust your IoT development company to handle it.
• Workspace. The workplace is provided by your IoT partner. Rent is not due until tomorrow.
• Equipment. Employees are given all necessary hardware and software by the company.
• Rates. You can choose an IoT partner with a reasonable hourly charge. It’s not actually advised to select the least expensive option. Even so, hiring an excellent service will still be less expensive than paying the in-house staff.

Quicker team setup

An offshore business gets access to more developers tested by time. As a rule, IoT outsourcing companies have a recruitment division that will locate the lacking employees needed for your project. In any case, your IoT partner is in charge of organizing the team so that work may begin ASAP.

Skilled professionals

A trustworthy IoT development company possesses the necessary subject knowledge. The portfolio of the organization should support its experience.

TIP: Consider employing IoT developers from Eastern Europe or Ukraine. These regions provide reasonably priced, high-quality services. The in-house developers will require some time to become acclimated to working with one another, unlike the outsourced company. With outsourcing solutions, you hire an IoT developer prepared to start working right away.

Checklist for the Job Interview

Make sure you do not forget to ask the following set of questions when hiring an Internet of Things engineer:

• What is your background in IoT project development?
• Can you show a portfolio with your previous projects?
• Do you have any real-time IoT systems installed personally in our sector?
• Can you provide any references?
• How competent is your team in terms of UI/UX?
• What level of hardware knowledge do you have regarding the Internet of Things?
• Do you adhere to any protocols or best practices to streamline your production?
• What is your rate per hour/week/month?

Rates of IoT Developers

One of the most pressing inquiries startupers typically ask when they have an idea for a project is “What is the cost?” The location of your IoT application developer will have a significant impact on the ultimate pricing. In light of this, let’s analyze the salaries of IoT engineers in various nations to determine which choice best meets your needs.

The United States. If you want to hire American IoT app developers, be prepared to invest a lot of money. These specialists demand between $100 and $150 per hour because of the relatively high cost of living in this nation.

Ukraine. Paying top Ukrainian IoT developers between $30 and $80 per hour is a common practice. Annual wages of Ukrainian developers range between $11,936 and $46,787. The prices are nearly two times lower compared to US developers and marginally lower than in most of Western Europe and China. IoT software’s quality deserves attention as well. Ukrainian engineers had an average score of 88.7% across all HackerRank challenges.

China. Chinese IoT experts are priced similarly to those in European nations, although being unquestionably less expensive than US developers. More particularly, they charge $40 to $80 per hour for their services. $1300 per year is the typical salary.

The Netherlands. Like in the majority of Western European nations, the hourly pay for IoT app developers in the Netherlands can approach $90. However, you can be fortunate enough to come across coders who will work for just $45 an hour. The rates may achieve €42991 annually.

Where to Look for the IoT Engineers

Several sources exist where companies or individuals can look for the IoT developers.

Freelance Websites

If you need more personnel for lesser jobs, hiring independent contractors is a viable choice. Candidates who are qualified can be found on platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, or Toptal. You can search for freelancers based on their ratings, experience, and pertinent abilities. It’s not a suggested choice, though, if you require an IoT developer to assist with the software design and process management. After all, you can only rely on the profile descriptions provided by independent specialists who might lack references.

Outsourcing Companies

Outsourcing your project to an IoT software development company is an additional possible option. You’ll have access to a large pool of tech talent in this way. An outsourcing firm will handle the hiring procedure, compensation, tools, team management, and other aspects of developing software.

“Language difficulties and time zone differences are potential obstacles to take into account. The developers you deal with will have solid English language proficiency and be able to adjust to your time zone thanks to established communication channels if you select a vetted provider, like IntelliSoft.”

Kosta Mitrofanskiy — CEO @ IntelliSoft A technology expert and entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience in the web & software development business.

Review Websites

Those are platforms that compile unbiased customer reviews for each company listed on the site. They conduct in-depth interviews with businesses and clients to learn more about how well they interacted with each user. As a rule, such services create a fair assessment of all the companies based on the information received and real testimonials.

Companies offering IoT experts may be, for instance, grouped according to their location, area of specialization, and emphasis on credentials. You can check Clutch, VenturePact, Digitalogy, and more.

Professional Networks

LinkedIn, FaceBook, and some other social networks might serve as a good example in this category. It is not the best channel as some specialists may lie about their expertise in their profiles.

Conclusion: Hire IoT application developers at IntelliSoft

While looking for IoT app developers to build your dream team, you should initially look at their skill set. You might need to prepare a list of interview questions to gauge a candidate’s competence. Then, think about the costs associated with hiring IoT professionals in various regions and choose the location that best suits the requirements of your project. Last but not least, decide on the hiring strategy based on your tastes and budget.

Consider IntelliSoft if you’re seeking an Internet of Things development business. We are a Ukrainian software development company that also offers help with creating web applications and IoT software development services. Here is why so many clients choose us:

• Competent talent pool. We have Internet of Things (IoT) and mobile app developers who focus on creating interactive iOS, Android, and hybrid applications.
• Customized outcomes. We also concentrate on the connectivity of wearables to improve your access to an IoT system.
• Appropriate technology. We offer mobile data visualization services so that you can receive an in-depth report and analysis of the gathered data from anywhere in the world.

Get in touch with our experts, describe your process, and we will help you for sure!

Originally published on intellisoft.io