Computational Geometry Developer — Custom Dental Device STL Generation Pipeline (Python)

Job Description: We are a dental group developing a proprietary internal manufacturing pipeline that converts patient intraoral scan STL files into a set of precision-engineered tooth preparation guides for veneers and crowns. This is an internal production tool, not a commercial app — we will use it ourselves to design and 3D print/manufacture guides that we post to clinicians. We need a developer with strong experience in 3D mesh processing and computational geometry to build a Python pipeline that automates the following: Import a watertight STL (post-smile-design intraoral scan) Offset the tooth surface inward by a small fixed clearance (e.g. 0.02mm) for intaglio fit, maintaining watertight, non-manifold-free geometry Generate a variable-thickness shell over the prepared arch, where wall thickness changes gradually across defined zones (e.g. 0.3mm incisal to 0.5mm cervical) following a parametric gradient rather than a flat offset Perform boolean cuts to create horizontal slot features and interproximal slits in the shell at specified positions Output clean, print-ready STL files (multiple guide variants per case) Inputs the pipeline must support per case: STL file, material type selection (affects minimum thickness), substrate shade, target shade (these affect depth/thickness calculations — we'll provide the business logic/lookup tables). Ideal candidate has experience with some combination of: Python mesh libraries (trimesh, Open3D, PyMeshLab, or similar) Computational geometry: mesh offsetting, boolean operations on triangulated meshes, non-manifold geometry handling Dental, medical device, or orthodontic CAD/CAM background (strongly preferred but not required) OpenCASCADE / pythonOCC or similar B-rep/CAD kernels (a plus) STL/mesh repair and watertightness validation Project structure: Phase 1 (paid trial): build a working proof-of-concept that takes one sample STL we provide and produces a single variable-thickness shell with correct offset and one slot cut, so we can validate your approach before committing to the full build Phase 2: full pipeline covering all guide variants, parameterized by material/shade inputs, batch-processable Phase 3 (optional, ongoing): refinements, edge case handling, and packaging into a simple internal tool our technicians can run To apply, please include: A brief description of a past project involving mesh offsetting or boolean operations on organic/anatomical 3D surfaces Your experience (if any) with dental, medical device, or implant guide geometry Your proposed approach/library stack for the variable wall thickness problem described above Your availability over the next 4–6 weeks We will share a sample STL and reference document (material spec) with shortlisted candidates under NDA.