Lead AI/Automation Engineer (n8n, Python, Shopify) for E-commerce

Lead AI/Automation Engineer (n8n, Python, Shopify, Local LLMs) to Build Hyper-Lean E-commerce Architecture Please Note: This job is posted via our established 'Curated Wellness' Upwork account, but you will be building the infrastructure for our new sister company, Pro AVT. Project Overview: We are the founders behind Curated Wellness, and we are currently building out our next venture: Pro AVT. Pro AVT is a B2B/B2C professional audio-visual distribution company operating on a 100% direct-ship, zero-inventory model. To be ultra-competitive in a low-margin industry, we are automating 85% of our daily operations. We are currently working with a senior AI/Context Engineer who is mapping our final architectural blueprint over the next 3-4 weeks. We are looking to hire a lead automation developer now to review this blueprint as it's finalized, team up with our internal Technical Lead, and execute the heavy lifting of the actual build-out starting in mid-to-late October. The Tech Stack: The Hub: A dedicated on-premise Legion PC (located securely in the United States) acting as the local server. Workflow Automation: n8n (self-hosted). Scripting: Python (for data transformation, FTP/CSV parsing, and margin calculations). E-commerce: Shopify Advanced (via GraphQL Admin API) + B2B Portal plugins. Database/CRM: Airtable or HubSpot. AI/LLMs: Claude 3.5 Sonnet / OpenAI APIs, plus local RAG setups for processing PDF manuals/specs. Customer Support & Outreach: Gorgias/Intercom, Apollo.io/Lemlist. Key Responsibilities: Server Setup: Configure the Legion PC for secure remote access, static IP routing, and robust self-hosted n8n/Python environments. Inventory & Pricing Sync: Build automated pipelines to fetch daily manufacturer data drops (via FTP, SFTP, REST APIs, or email attachments), calculate tiered pricing margins via Python, and push live updates to Shopify to prevent overselling. Order Routing Automation: Catch Shopify webhooks to split multi-vendor orders, generate PDF Purchase Orders, and automatically dispatch them to manufacturers via API or email. AI Support Agents: Build autonomous Tier-1 support workflows (using AI + RAG) to handle basic tech specs, RMA processing, and order tracking inquiries via Gorgias/Intercom. CRM Integration: Connect our Airtable/HubSpot database to our email outreach platforms (Apollo) and use AI APIs to dynamically draft contextual B2B sales emails. Who You Are: You are an expert in n8n and Python. You have deep experience working with the Shopify Admin API / GraphQL. You understand how to build secure, locally-hosted automation environments. You have practical experience deploying AI APIs and RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) for real-world business use cases. You are a self-starter who can take an architectural blueprint, identify technical blind spots, and execute flawlessly. How We Work: You will report directly to our internal Head of Technology and collaborate with our external AI Systems Architect. You will not have to guess at the business logic; you will be handed a detailed process flow document. Your job is to build it. To Apply: Please respond with: Examples of complex n8n workflows you have built from scratch. Your experience automating inventory/pricing syncs for e-commerce platforms. Your experience working with local servers or self-hosting automation tools.