diff --git a/packages/shared/src/constants.ts b/packages/shared/src/constants.ts
index 8725947eca..942d322369 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/constants.ts
+++ b/packages/shared/src/constants.ts
@@ -334,6 +334,7 @@ export type IssueTreeHoldReleasePolicyStrategy = (typeof ISSUE_TREE_HOLD_RELEASE
 
 export const ISSUE_CONTINUATION_SUMMARY_DOCUMENT_KEY = "continuation-summary" as const;
 export const PIPELINE_CASE_BODY_DOCUMENT_KEY = "pipeline-case-body" as const;
+export const PIPELINE_AUTOMATION_DEFAULT_TITLE_TEMPLATE = "{{pipeline_name}} / {{stage_name}}: {{case_title}}" as const;
 export const SYSTEM_ISSUE_DOCUMENT_KEYS = [
   ISSUE_CONTINUATION_SUMMARY_DOCUMENT_KEY,
   PIPELINE_CASE_BODY_DOCUMENT_KEY,
diff --git a/packages/shared/src/index.ts b/packages/shared/src/index.ts
index ddb7ade519..ea2022a3da 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/shared/src/index.ts
@@ -233,6 +233,7 @@ export {
   WORKSPACE_OVERVIEW_DEFAULT_LIMIT,
   WORKSPACE_OVERVIEW_MAX_LIMIT,
   WORKSPACE_OVERVIEW_LINKED_ISSUE_LIMIT,
+  PIPELINE_AUTOMATION_DEFAULT_TITLE_TEMPLATE,
   PLUGIN_EVENT_TYPES,
   PLUGIN_BRIDGE_ERROR_CODES,
   type CompanyStatus,
diff --git a/packages/shared/src/types/pipeline.ts b/packages/shared/src/types/pipeline.ts
index 1786725814..28bc7095db 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/types/pipeline.ts
+++ b/packages/shared/src/types/pipeline.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ export interface PipelineCaseConversationSource {
 export interface PipelineStageAutomation {
   routineId: string;
   assigneeAgentId: string | null;
+  titleTemplate: string;
   instructionsBody: string;
   projectId: string | null;
   projectWorkspaceId: string | null;
diff --git a/server/src/__tests__/pipelines-routes.test.ts b/server/src/__tests__/pipelines-routes.test.ts
index d06ba78668..cfdc6c1fb4 100644
--- a/server/src/__tests__/pipelines-routes.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/__tests__/pipelines-routes.test.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ import { errorHandler } from "../middleware/error-handler.js";
 import { issueRoutes } from "../routes/issues.js";
 import { pipelineRoutes } from "../routes/pipelines.js";
 import {
+  PIPELINE_AUTOMATION_DEFAULT_TITLE_TEMPLATE,
   PIPELINE_CASE_EVENTS_MAX_LIMIT,
   PIPELINE_CONTEXT_PACK_EVENT_LIMIT,
 } from "../services/pipelines.js";
@@ -677,6 +678,7 @@ describeEmbeddedPostgres("pipeline routes", () => {
     const automatedStage = detail.body.stages.find((stage: { key: string }) => stage.key === "in_progress");
     expect(automatedStage.config.automation).toMatchObject({
       assigneeAgentId: agent.id,
+      titleTemplate: PIPELINE_AUTOMATION_DEFAULT_TITLE_TEMPLATE,
       instructionsBody: "Legacy automation body.",
       projectId: null,
       projectWorkspaceId: null,
@@ -685,6 +687,14 @@ describeEmbeddedPostgres("pipeline routes", () => {
       executionWorkspaceSettings: null,
     });
 
+    await db
+      .update(routines)
+      .set({ title: "Custom automation for {{case_key}}" })
+      .where(eq(routines.id, automatedStage.config.automation.routineId));
+    const detailAfterRoutineEdit = await http.get(`/api/pipelines/${pipeline.body.id}`).expect(200);
+    const editedStage = detailAfterRoutineEdit.body.stages.find((stage: { key: string }) => stage.key === "in_progress");
+    expect(editedStage.config.automation.titleTemplate).toBe("Custom automation for {{case_key}}");
+
     const created = await http
       .post(`/api/pipelines/${pipeline.body.id}/cases`)
       .send({ caseKey: "legacy-automation", title: "Legacy automation" })
diff --git a/server/src/__tests__/pipelines-service.test.ts b/server/src/__tests__/pipelines-service.test.ts
index ffa6070bd3..847750d182 100644
--- a/server/src/__tests__/pipelines-service.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/__tests__/pipelines-service.test.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,11 @@ import {
   getEmbeddedPostgresTestSupport,
   startEmbeddedPostgresTestDatabase,
 } from "./helpers/embedded-postgres.js";
-import { pipelineService, type PipelineActor } from "../services/pipelines.ts";
+import {
+  PIPELINE_AUTOMATION_DEFAULT_TITLE_TEMPLATE,
+  pipelineService,
+  type PipelineActor,
+} from "../services/pipelines.ts";
 import { routineService } from "../services/routines.ts";
 import { instanceSettingsService } from "../services/instance-settings.ts";
 
@@ -1471,6 +1475,105 @@ describeEmbeddedPostgres("pipelineService", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it("defaults, preserves, and interpolates pipeline automation issue title templates", async () => {
+    const { company, pipeline, byKey } = await seedPipeline();
+    const routineSeed = await seedRoutine(company.id, "Automation seed");
+    const stageId = byKey.get("in_progress")!.id;
+
+    const firstSave = await svc.updateStage({
+      companyId: company.id,
+      pipelineId: pipeline.id,
+      stageId,
+      patch: {
+        config: {
+          automation: {
+            assigneeAgentId: routineSeed.assigneeAgentId,
+            instructionsBody: "Draft from {{body}} for {{case_title}}.",
+          },
+        },
+      },
+      actor: userActor,
+    });
+    const firstRoutineId = (firstSave.config as { onEnter?: { routineId?: string } }).onEnter?.routineId;
+    expect(firstRoutineId).toBeTruthy();
+    const [defaultRoutine] = await db.select().from(routines).where(eq(routines.id, firstRoutineId!));
+    expect(defaultRoutine!.title).toBe(PIPELINE_AUTOMATION_DEFAULT_TITLE_TEMPLATE);
+    expect((defaultRoutine!.variables ?? []).map((variable) => variable.name)).toEqual([
+      "pipeline_name",
+      "stage_name",
+      "case_title",
+      "body",
+    ]);
+
+    await db
+      .update(routines)
+      .set({ title: "Custom {{case_key}}: {{case_title}}" })
+      .where(eq(routines.id, firstRoutineId!));
+    await svc.updateStage({
+      companyId: company.id,
+      pipelineId: pipeline.id,
+      stageId,
+      patch: {
+        config: {
+          automation: {
+            assigneeAgentId: routineSeed.assigneeAgentId,
+            instructionsBody: "Updated instructions for {{case_title}}.",
+          },
+        },
+      },
+      actor: userActor,
+    });
+    const [customRoutine] = await db.select().from(routines).where(eq(routines.id, firstRoutineId!));
+    expect(customRoutine!.title).toBe("Custom {{case_key}}: {{case_title}}");
+    expect((customRoutine!.variables ?? []).map((variable) => variable.name)).toContain("case_key");
+
+    await db
+      .update(routines)
+      .set({ title: "In progress automation" })
+      .where(eq(routines.id, firstRoutineId!));
+    await svc.updateStage({
+      companyId: company.id,
+      pipelineId: pipeline.id,
+      stageId,
+      patch: {
+        config: {
+          automation: {
+            assigneeAgentId: routineSeed.assigneeAgentId,
+            instructionsBody: "Runtime interpolation for {{case_title}}.",
+          },
+        },
+      },
+      actor: userActor,
+    });
+    const [upgradedRoutine] = await db.select().from(routines).where(eq(routines.id, firstRoutineId!));
+    expect(upgradedRoutine!.title).toBe(PIPELINE_AUTOMATION_DEFAULT_TITLE_TEMPLATE);
+
+    const created = await svc.ingestCase({
+      companyId: company.id,
+      pipelineId: pipeline.id,
+      caseKey: "pulpit-opinion",
+      title: "Pulpit opinion piece",
+      body: "Agentic work should be composed, not rebuilt",
+      actor: userActor,
+    });
+    const moved = await svc.transitionCase({
+      companyId: company.id,
+      caseId: created.case.id,
+      toStageKey: "in_progress",
+      expectedVersion: 1,
+      actor: userActor,
+    });
+    expect(moved.automationExecution.status).toBe("succeeded");
+    const executionIssueId = moved.automationExecution.status === "succeeded"
+      ? moved.automationExecution.execution.executionIssueId
+      : null;
+    const [issue] = await db
+      .select({ title: issues.title })
+      .from(issues)
+      .where(eq(issues.id, executionIssueId!));
+    expect(issue!.title).toBe("Content / In progress: Pulpit opinion piece");
+  });
+
   it("rejects cross-company stage automation routines at save and execution", async () => {
     const company = await seedCompany();
     const otherCompany = await seedCompany();
diff --git a/server/src/routes/pipelines.ts b/server/src/routes/pipelines.ts
index 9eca9ac736..6f4f2047a8 100644
--- a/server/src/routes/pipelines.ts
+++ b/server/src/routes/pipelines.ts
@@ -266,6 +266,7 @@ function withDerivedStageAutomation(
   stage: typeof pipelineStages.$inferSelect,
   routineById: Map<string, {
     assigneeAgentId: string | null;
+    title: string;
     description: string | null;
     env: PipelineStageAutomation["env"];
     latestRevisionId: string | null;
@@ -285,6 +286,7 @@ function withDerivedStageAutomation(
       automation: {
         routineId,
         assigneeAgentId: routine.assigneeAgentId,
+        titleTemplate: routine.title,
         instructionsBody: routine.description ?? "",
         ...stageAutomationContext(config),
         env: routine.env ?? null,
@@ -986,6 +988,7 @@ export function pipelineRoutes(db: Db, options: Parameters<typeof pipelineServic
           .select({
             id: routines.id,
             assigneeAgentId: routines.assigneeAgentId,
+            title: routines.title,
             description: routines.description,
             env: routines.env,
             latestRevisionId: routines.latestRevisionId,
@@ -998,6 +1001,7 @@ export function pipelineRoutes(db: Db, options: Parameters<typeof pipelineServic
       row.id,
       {
         assigneeAgentId: row.assigneeAgentId,
+        title: row.title,
         description: row.description,
         env: row.env,
         latestRevisionId: row.latestRevisionId,
@@ -1076,6 +1080,7 @@ export function pipelineRoutes(db: Db, options: Parameters<typeof pipelineServic
           .select({
             id: routines.id,
             assigneeAgentId: routines.assigneeAgentId,
+            title: routines.title,
             description: routines.description,
             env: routines.env,
             latestRevisionId: routines.latestRevisionId,
@@ -1088,6 +1093,7 @@ export function pipelineRoutes(db: Db, options: Parameters<typeof pipelineServic
       row.id,
       {
         assigneeAgentId: row.assigneeAgentId,
+        title: row.title,
         description: row.description,
         env: row.env,
         latestRevisionId: row.latestRevisionId,
diff --git a/server/src/services/pipelines.ts b/server/src/services/pipelines.ts
index 524351db96..4a59fcfc86 100644
--- a/server/src/services/pipelines.ts
+++ b/server/src/services/pipelines.ts
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import {
   type ExecutionWorkspaceMode,
   type IssueExecutionWorkspaceSettings,
   type PipelineStageAutomation,
+  PIPELINE_AUTOMATION_DEFAULT_TITLE_TEMPLATE,
   PIPELINE_CASE_BODY_DOCUMENT_KEY,
   type RoutineVariable,
   type RoutineRevisionSnapshotV1,
@@ -65,6 +66,11 @@ const PIPELINE_CASE_BODY_DOCUMENT_TITLE = "Item body document";
 export const PIPELINE_CASE_EVENTS_DEFAULT_LIMIT = 50;
 export const PIPELINE_CASE_EVENTS_MAX_LIMIT = 100;
 export const PIPELINE_CONTEXT_PACK_EVENT_LIMIT = 20;
+export { PIPELINE_AUTOMATION_DEFAULT_TITLE_TEMPLATE };
+
+function legacyPipelineAutomationTitle(stageName: string) {
+  return `${stageName} automation`;
+}
 
 const DEFAULT_STAGES = [
   { key: "intake", name: "Intake", kind: "working", position: 100 },
@@ -126,6 +132,7 @@ export type PipelineStageConfig = Record<string, unknown> & {
   automation?: {
     routineId?: string | null;
     assigneeAgentId?: string | null;
+    titleTemplate?: string | null;
     instructionsBody?: string | null;
     projectId?: string | null;
     projectWorkspaceId?: string | null;
@@ -822,15 +829,38 @@ function readStageAutomationRequest(config?: PipelineStageConfig | null) {
   const automation = config?.automation;
   if (!automation || typeof automation !== "object" || Array.isArray(automation)) return null;
   const assigneeAgentId = readOptionalTrimmedString(automation.assigneeAgentId);
+  const titleTemplate =
+    typeof automation.titleTemplate === "string" && automation.titleTemplate.trim().length > 0
+      ? automation.titleTemplate.trim()
+      : null;
   const instructionsBody =
     typeof automation.instructionsBody === "string" ? automation.instructionsBody : "";
   return {
     assigneeAgentId,
+    titleTemplate,
     instructionsBody,
     executionContext: readAutomationExecutionContext(automation),
   };
 }
 
+function resolvePipelineAutomationTitleTemplate(input: {
+  requestedTitleTemplate: string | null;
+  previousRoutine: typeof routines.$inferSelect | null;
+  stageName: string;
+  previousStageName: string;
+}) {
+  if (input.requestedTitleTemplate) return input.requestedTitleTemplate;
+  const previousTitle = input.previousRoutine?.title;
+  if (
+    previousTitle &&
+    previousTitle !== legacyPipelineAutomationTitle(input.previousStageName) &&
+    previousTitle !== legacyPipelineAutomationTitle(input.stageName)
+  ) {
+    return previousTitle;
+  }
+  return PIPELINE_AUTOMATION_DEFAULT_TITLE_TEMPLATE;
+}
+
 function persistedStageConfig(config?: PipelineStageConfig | null): PipelineStageConfig {
   const {
     automation: _automation,
@@ -1103,6 +1133,7 @@ function derivedStageAutomationPayload(
   return {
     routineId: routine.id,
     assigneeAgentId: routine.assigneeAgentId,
+    titleTemplate: routine.title,
     instructionsBody: routine.description ?? "",
     ...executionContext,
     env: routine.env ?? null,
@@ -2684,14 +2715,16 @@ export function pipelineService(db: Db, deps: { heartbeat?: IssueAssignmentWakeu
       companyId: string;
       pipelineId: string;
       stage: typeof pipelineStages.$inferSelect;
+      previousStageName: string;
+      previousRoutineId: string | null;
       config: PipelineStageConfig;
       assigneeAgentId: string | null;
+      titleTemplate: string | null;
       instructionsBody: string;
       executionContext: PipelineAutomationExecutionContext;
       actor: PipelineActor;
     },
   ): Promise<PipelineStageConfig> {
-    const previousRoutineId = stageAutomationRoutineIdFromConfig(input.config);
     if (!input.assigneeAgentId) {
       const { onEnter: _onEnter, ...rest } = input.config;
       return rest as PipelineStageConfig;
@@ -2699,23 +2732,25 @@ export function pipelineService(db: Db, deps: { heartbeat?: IssueAssignmentWakeu
 
     await assertAssignableAgent(dbOrTx as Db, input.companyId, input.assigneeAgentId, { kind: "routine" });
     const actorPatch = routineActorPatch(input.actor);
-    const variables = syncRoutineVariablesWithTemplate(
-      [input.stage.name, input.instructionsBody],
-      sanitizePipelineRoutineVariables(input.config.variables),
-    );
-    const title = `${input.stage.name} automation`;
-    const description = input.instructionsBody.trim();
-
-    const previousRoutine = previousRoutineId
+    const previousRoutine = input.previousRoutineId
       ? await dbOrTx
           .select()
           .from(routines)
-          .where(and(eq(routines.id, previousRoutineId), eq(routines.companyId, input.companyId)))
+          .where(and(eq(routines.id, input.previousRoutineId), eq(routines.companyId, input.companyId)))
           .then((rows) => rows[0] ?? null)
       : null;
     const canReusePrevious =
       previousRoutine &&
       (previousRoutine.originKind === "pipeline_automation" || previousRoutine.originKind === "manual");
+    const title = resolvePipelineAutomationTitleTemplate({
+      requestedTitleTemplate: input.titleTemplate,
+      previousRoutine: canReusePrevious ? previousRoutine : null,
+      stageName: input.stage.name,
+      previousStageName: input.previousStageName,
+    });
+    const configWithVariables = reconcilePipelineStageConfigVariables(input.config, [title, input.instructionsBody]);
+    const variables = sanitizePipelineRoutineVariables(configWithVariables.variables);
+    const description = input.instructionsBody.trim();
 
     if (canReusePrevious) {
       const now = nowDate();
@@ -2742,7 +2777,7 @@ export function pipelineService(db: Db, deps: { heartbeat?: IssueAssignmentWakeu
         "Updated pipeline automation",
       );
       return {
-        ...input.config,
+        ...configWithVariables,
         onEnter: {
           type: "run_routine" as const,
           routineId: revised.id,
@@ -2781,7 +2816,7 @@ export function pipelineService(db: Db, deps: { heartbeat?: IssueAssignmentWakeu
       "Created pipeline automation",
     );
     return {
-      ...input.config,
+      ...configWithVariables,
       onEnter: {
         type: "run_routine" as const,
         routineId: revised.id,
@@ -3604,7 +3639,10 @@ export function pipelineService(db: Db, deps: { heartbeat?: IssueAssignmentWakeu
       const stageName = input.patch.name ?? existing.name;
       let config = normalizeStageConfig(kind, input.patch.config !== undefined ? input.patch.config : stageConfig(existing));
       if (automationRequest) {
-        config = reconcilePipelineStageConfigVariables(config, [stageName, automationRequest.instructionsBody]);
+        config = reconcilePipelineStageConfigVariables(config, [
+          automationRequest.titleTemplate ?? PIPELINE_AUTOMATION_DEFAULT_TITLE_TEMPLATE,
+          automationRequest.instructionsBody,
+        ]);
       }
       await validateStageTargets(input.companyId, input.pipelineId, kind, config);
       await validateStageAutomationConfig(input.companyId, config);
@@ -3614,8 +3652,11 @@ export function pipelineService(db: Db, deps: { heartbeat?: IssueAssignmentWakeu
               companyId: input.companyId,
               pipelineId: input.pipelineId,
               stage: { ...existing, name: stageName, kind },
+              previousStageName: existing.name,
+              previousRoutineId,
               config,
               assigneeAgentId: automationRequest.assigneeAgentId,
+              titleTemplate: automationRequest.titleTemplate,
               instructionsBody: automationRequest.instructionsBody,
               executionContext: automationRequest.executionContext,
               actor: input.actor ?? { type: "system" },
diff --git a/ui/src/components/RoutineVariablesEditor.tsx b/ui/src/components/RoutineVariablesEditor.tsx
index b93091c4b7..3965cd296a 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/RoutineVariablesEditor.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/components/RoutineVariablesEditor.tsx
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ export function RoutineVariablesEditor({
         <div>
           <p className="text-sm font-medium">Variables</p>
           <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-            Detected from `{"{{name}}"}` placeholders in the routine title and instructions.
+            Detected from `{"{{name}}"}` placeholders in the title and instructions.
           </p>
         </div>
         {open ? <ChevronDown className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground" /> : <ChevronRight className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground" />}
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ export function RoutineVariablesHint() {
     <>
       <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-2 rounded-lg border border-dashed border-border/70 px-3 py-2 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
         <span>
-          Use `{"{{variable_name}}"}` placeholders in the instructions to prompt for inputs when the routine runs.
+          Use `{"{{variable_name}}"}` placeholders in the title or instructions to prompt for inputs when the routine runs.
         </span>
         <button
           type="button"
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/IssueDetail.tsx b/ui/src/pages/IssueDetail.tsx
index 02857381a7..ee32ac7758 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/IssueDetail.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/pages/IssueDetail.tsx
@@ -525,7 +525,10 @@ function IssueDetailLoadingState({
                 <span className="text-sm font-mono text-muted-foreground shrink-0">{identifier}</span>
               ) : null}
               {headerSeed.originKind === "routine_execution" && headerSeed.originId ? (
-                <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 rounded-full border border-violet-500/30 bg-violet-500/10 px-2 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-medium text-violet-600 dark:text-violet-400 shrink-0">
+                <span
+                  className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 rounded-full border border-violet-500/30 bg-violet-500/10 px-2 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-medium text-violet-600 dark:text-violet-400 shrink-0"
+                  title={`Routine execution from routine ${headerSeed.originId}`}
+                >
                   <Repeat className="h-3 w-3" />
                   Routine
                 </span>
@@ -3699,6 +3702,7 @@ export function IssueDetail() {
             <Link
               to={`/routines/${issue.originId}`}
               className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 rounded-full bg-violet-500/10 border border-violet-500/30 px-2 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-medium text-violet-600 dark:text-violet-400 shrink-0 hover:bg-violet-500/20 transition-colors"
+              title={`Routine execution from routine ${issue.originId}`}
             >
               <Repeat className="h-3 w-3" />
               Routine
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/PipelineSettings.test.ts b/ui/src/pages/PipelineSettings.test.ts
index b583d3bfc6..33642433b0 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/PipelineSettings.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/PipelineSettings.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { PIPELINE_AUTOMATION_DEFAULT_TITLE_TEMPLATE } from "@paperclipai/shared";
 import {
+  buildStageAutomationForSave,
   isPipelineSettingsStageSectionAvailable,
+  pipelineAutomationTitleTemplate,
   resolvePipelineSettingsFallbackStageId,
+  syncPipelineStageAutomationVariables,
 } from "./PipelineSettings";
 
 const stages = [{ id: "first-stage" }, { id: "break-assets" }];
@@ -29,3 +33,51 @@ describe("isPipelineSettingsStageSectionAvailable", () => {
     expect(isPipelineSettingsStageSectionAvailable("working", "history")).toBe(true);
   });
 });
+
+describe("pipeline automation issue title templates", () => {
+  it("defaults blank title templates for saved stage automation", () => {
+    expect(pipelineAutomationTitleTemplate("")).toBe(PIPELINE_AUTOMATION_DEFAULT_TITLE_TEMPLATE);
+    expect(pipelineAutomationTitleTemplate("  ")).toBe(PIPELINE_AUTOMATION_DEFAULT_TITLE_TEMPLATE);
+  });
+
+  it("includes a custom issue title template in the stage automation save payload", () => {
+    expect(
+      buildStageAutomationForSave({
+        assigneeAgentId: "agent-1",
+        titleTemplate: "Review {{case_key}} for {{market}}",
+        instructionsBody: "Score {{market}} and move the item forward.",
+        projectId: "project-1",
+        projectWorkspaceId: "workspace-1",
+        executionWorkspaceId: "execution-workspace-1",
+        executionWorkspacePreference: "reuse_existing",
+        executionWorkspaceSettings: { mode: "isolated_workspace" },
+      }),
+    ).toEqual({
+      assigneeAgentId: "agent-1",
+      titleTemplate: "Review {{case_key}} for {{market}}",
+      instructionsBody: "Score {{market}} and move the item forward.",
+      projectId: "project-1",
+      projectWorkspaceId: "workspace-1",
+      executionWorkspaceId: "execution-workspace-1",
+      executionWorkspacePreference: "reuse_existing",
+      executionWorkspaceSettings: { mode: "isolated_workspace" },
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("detects variables from the issue title template and instructions", () => {
+    const variables = syncPipelineStageAutomationVariables(
+      "{{pipeline_name}} / {{stage_name}}: {{case_title}} for {{market}}",
+      "Summarize {{case_summary}} by {{dueDate}}.",
+      [],
+    );
+
+    expect(variables.map((variable) => [variable.name, variable.type])).toEqual([
+      ["pipeline_name", "text"],
+      ["stage_name", "text"],
+      ["case_title", "text"],
+      ["market", "text"],
+      ["case_summary", "text"],
+      ["dueDate", "date"],
+    ]);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/PipelineSettings.tsx b/ui/src/pages/PipelineSettings.tsx
index c85e8c4122..aa7bc2a28a 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/PipelineSettings.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/pages/PipelineSettings.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
-import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState, type FormEvent, type ReactNode } from "react";
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useLayoutEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState, type FormEvent, type ReactNode } from "react";
 import { useMutation, useQuery, useQueryClient } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import {
   extractRoutineVariableNames,
   groupWarningsByStage,
   isBuiltinRoutineVariable,
   isPipelineTerminalStageKind,
+  PIPELINE_AUTOMATION_DEFAULT_TITLE_TEMPLATE,
   syncRoutineVariablesWithTemplate,
   type ExecutionWorkspaceMode,
   type ExecutionWorkspaceSummary,
@@ -126,6 +127,7 @@ type StageConfig = {
   disabledReason?: string | null;
   automation?: {
     assigneeAgentId?: string | null;
+    titleTemplate?: string | null;
     instructionsBody?: string | null;
     projectId?: string | null;
     projectWorkspaceId?: string | null;
@@ -337,6 +339,48 @@ function nullableExecutionWorkspaceSettings(value: unknown): IssueExecutionWorks
     : null;
 }
 
+export function pipelineAutomationTitleTemplate(value: unknown): string {
+  return typeof value === "string" && value.trim().length > 0
+    ? value.trim()
+    : PIPELINE_AUTOMATION_DEFAULT_TITLE_TEMPLATE;
+}
+
+export function syncPipelineStageAutomationVariables(
+  titleTemplate: string,
+  instructionsBody: string,
+  existing: RoutineVariable[],
+): RoutineVariable[] {
+  const synced = syncRoutineVariablesWithTemplate([titleTemplate, instructionsBody], existing);
+  const syncedNames = new Set(synced.map((variable) => variable.name));
+  return [...synced, ...existing.filter((variable) => !syncedNames.has(variable.name))];
+}
+
+export function buildStageAutomationForSave(input: {
+  assigneeAgentId: string;
+  titleTemplate: string;
+  instructionsBody: string;
+  projectId: string;
+  projectWorkspaceId: string;
+  executionWorkspaceId: string;
+  executionWorkspacePreference: ExecutionWorkspaceMode | "";
+  executionWorkspaceSettings: IssueExecutionWorkspaceSettings | null;
+}) {
+  return {
+    assigneeAgentId: input.assigneeAgentId || null,
+    titleTemplate: pipelineAutomationTitleTemplate(input.titleTemplate),
+    instructionsBody: input.instructionsBody,
+    projectId: input.projectId || null,
+    projectWorkspaceId: input.projectId && input.projectWorkspaceId ? input.projectWorkspaceId : null,
+    executionWorkspaceId:
+      input.projectId && input.executionWorkspacePreference === "reuse_existing" && input.executionWorkspaceId
+        ? input.executionWorkspaceId
+        : null,
+    executionWorkspacePreference:
+      input.projectId && input.executionWorkspacePreference ? input.executionWorkspacePreference : null,
+    executionWorkspaceSettings: input.executionWorkspaceSettings,
+  };
+}
+
 function executionWorkspaceSettingsForPreference(
   preference: ExecutionWorkspaceMode | "",
   reusableWorkspace: Pick<ExecutionWorkspaceSummary, "mode"> | null,
@@ -354,6 +398,7 @@ function stageAutomation(stage: PipelineStage | null | undefined) {
   if (!automation || typeof automation !== "object" || Array.isArray(automation)) {
     return {
       assigneeAgentId: "",
+      titleTemplate: PIPELINE_AUTOMATION_DEFAULT_TITLE_TEMPLATE,
       instructionsBody: null as string | null,
       projectId: "",
       projectWorkspaceId: "",
@@ -365,6 +410,7 @@ function stageAutomation(stage: PipelineStage | null | undefined) {
   const executionWorkspaceSettings = nullableExecutionWorkspaceSettings(automation.executionWorkspaceSettings);
   return {
     assigneeAgentId: nullableString(automation.assigneeAgentId),
+    titleTemplate: pipelineAutomationTitleTemplate(automation.titleTemplate),
     instructionsBody: typeof automation.instructionsBody === "string" ? automation.instructionsBody : null,
     projectId: nullableString(automation.projectId),
     projectWorkspaceId: nullableString(automation.projectWorkspaceId),
@@ -406,11 +452,13 @@ function stageAutomationDetail(stage: PipelineStage | null | undefined) {
  * body-driven. Placeholder-derived fields are added while existing manual
  * fields stay in place when instructions change.
  */
-function savedStageVariables(stage: PipelineStage | null | undefined, savedBody: string): RoutineVariable[] {
+function savedStageVariables(
+  stage: PipelineStage | null | undefined,
+  savedTitleTemplate: string,
+  savedBody: string,
+): RoutineVariable[] {
   const existing = toRoutineVariables(stageConfig(stage).variables);
-  const synced = syncRoutineVariablesWithTemplate(["", savedBody], existing);
-  const syncedNames = new Set(synced.map((variable) => variable.name));
-  return [...synced, ...existing.filter((variable) => !syncedNames.has(variable.name))];
+  return syncPipelineStageAutomationVariables(savedTitleTemplate, savedBody, existing);
 }
 
 function stripVariableEditorMetadata(variables: RoutineVariable[]): RoutineVariable[] {
@@ -693,6 +741,7 @@ type StageFormValues = {
   automationExecutionWorkspaceId: string;
   automationExecutionWorkspacePreference: ExecutionWorkspaceMode | "";
   automationExecutionWorkspaceSettings: IssueExecutionWorkspaceSettings | null;
+  automationTitleTemplate: string;
 };
 
 type PipelineTransitionRecord = { fromStageId: string; toStageId: string; label?: string | null };
@@ -737,6 +786,7 @@ function computeStageForm(
     automationExecutionWorkspaceId: automation.executionWorkspaceId,
     automationExecutionWorkspacePreference: automation.executionWorkspacePreference,
     automationExecutionWorkspaceSettings: automation.executionWorkspaceSettings,
+    automationTitleTemplate: automation.titleTemplate,
   };
 }
 
@@ -1077,16 +1127,18 @@ function CarriedFieldTokenHelper({
 function AutomationVariableTokenHelper({
   groups,
   onInsert,
+  label = "Available variables",
 }: {
   groups: AutomationVariableGroup[];
   onInsert: (fieldKey: string) => void;
+  label?: string;
 }) {
   if (groups.length === 0) return null;
   return (
     <div className="rounded-md border border-border bg-muted/20 px-3 py-2">
       <div className="mb-2 flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
         <span className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase text-muted-foreground">
-          Available variables
+          {label}
         </span>
       </div>
       <div className="space-y-2">
@@ -1243,8 +1295,11 @@ export function PipelineSettings() {
   const [stageExecutionWorkspaceSettings, setStageExecutionWorkspaceSettings] =
     useState<IssueExecutionWorkspaceSettings | null>(null);
   const [selectedApproval, setSelectedApproval] = useState("any_human");
+  const [issueTitleTemplate, setIssueTitleTemplate] = useState<string>(PIPELINE_AUTOMATION_DEFAULT_TITLE_TEMPLATE);
   const [instructionsBody, setInstructionsBody] = useState("");
   const [instructionsVariables, setInstructionsVariables] = useState<RoutineVariable[]>([]);
+  const issueTitleTemplateInputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
+  const pendingIssueTitleCursorRef = useRef<number | null>(null);
   const instructionsEditorRef = useRef<MarkdownEditorRef>(null);
   // Stage secrets (the automation routine's env). Edited independently of the
   // rest of the stage form and saved through the narrow automation-env route.
@@ -1399,7 +1454,7 @@ export function PipelineSettings() {
     () => [...new Set([...incomingCarryOverFieldKeys, ...automationVariableKeys])],
     [automationVariableKeys, incomingCarryOverFieldKeys],
   );
-  const insertAutomationVariableToken = useCallback((fieldKey: string) => {
+  const insertInstructionsVariableToken = useCallback((fieldKey: string) => {
     const token = `{{${fieldKey}}}`;
     if (instructionsEditorRef.current) {
       instructionsEditorRef.current.insertMarkdown(token);
@@ -1407,6 +1462,28 @@ export function PipelineSettings() {
     }
     setInstructionsBody((current) => `${current}${current ? " " : ""}${token}`);
   }, []);
+  const insertIssueTitleVariableToken = useCallback((fieldKey: string) => {
+    const token = `{{${fieldKey}}}`;
+    setIssueTitleTemplate((current) => {
+      const input = issueTitleTemplateInputRef.current;
+      if (!input) return `${current}${current ? " " : ""}${token}`;
+      const start = input.selectionStart ?? current.length;
+      const end = input.selectionEnd ?? start;
+      const next = `${current.slice(0, start)}${token}${current.slice(end)}`;
+      pendingIssueTitleCursorRef.current = start + token.length;
+      return next;
+    });
+  }, []);
+
+  useLayoutEffect(() => {
+    const cursor = pendingIssueTitleCursorRef.current;
+    if (cursor == null) return;
+    pendingIssueTitleCursorRef.current = null;
+    const input = issueTitleTemplateInputRef.current;
+    if (!input) return;
+    input.focus();
+    input.setSelectionRange(cursor, cursor);
+  }, [issueTitleTemplate]);
 
   const instructionsKey = selectedStage ? stageInstructionsKey(selectedStage.id) : null;
   const instructionsQuery = useQuery({
@@ -1429,13 +1506,14 @@ export function PipelineSettings() {
   const savedInstructionsBody = instructionsDocument
     ? stageAutomation(selectedStage).instructionsBody ?? instructionsDocument.revision?.body ?? instructionsDocument.document?.latestBody ?? ""
     : stageAutomation(selectedStage).instructionsBody ?? stageConfig(selectedStage).whatHappensHere ?? "";
+  const savedIssueTitleTemplate = stageAutomation(selectedStage).titleTemplate;
   const savedInstructionsVariables = useMemo(
-    () => savedStageVariables(selectedStage, savedInstructionsBody),
-    [selectedStage, savedInstructionsBody],
+    () => savedStageVariables(selectedStage, savedIssueTitleTemplate, savedInstructionsBody),
+    [selectedStage, savedInstructionsBody, savedIssueTitleTemplate],
   );
   const savedManualVariableNames = useMemo(
-    () => manualVariableNamesForTemplate(savedInstructionsVariables, [selectedStage?.name ?? "", savedInstructionsBody]),
-    [savedInstructionsBody, savedInstructionsVariables, selectedStage?.name],
+    () => manualVariableNamesForTemplate(savedInstructionsVariables, [savedIssueTitleTemplate, savedInstructionsBody]),
+    [savedInstructionsBody, savedInstructionsVariables, savedIssueTitleTemplate],
   );
 
   const mentionOptions = useStandardMarkdownMentionOptions({
@@ -1602,6 +1680,7 @@ export function PipelineSettings() {
     setStageExecutionWorkspacePreference(form.automationExecutionWorkspacePreference);
     setStageExecutionWorkspaceId(form.automationExecutionWorkspaceId);
     setStageExecutionWorkspaceSettings(form.automationExecutionWorkspaceSettings);
+    setIssueTitleTemplate(form.automationTitleTemplate);
     setSelectedApproval(form.approval);
     setApproveTarget(form.approveTarget);
     setRejectTarget(form.rejectTarget);
@@ -1650,12 +1729,14 @@ export function PipelineSettings() {
     }
   }, [activeStageSection, requestedStageSection, selectedStage]);
 
-  // Instructions body + variables hydrate from the per-stage document (or the
-  // legacy field). Resetting on the saved value clears dirty after save/reload.
+  // Instructions body + title + variables hydrate from the backing automation
+  // routine (or legacy fields). Resetting on the saved value clears dirty after
+  // save/reload.
   useEffect(() => {
+    setIssueTitleTemplate(savedIssueTitleTemplate);
     setInstructionsBody(savedInstructionsBody);
     setInstructionsVariables(savedInstructionsVariables);
-  }, [selectedStage?.id, savedInstructionsBody, savedInstructionsVariables]);
+  }, [selectedStage?.id, savedInstructionsBody, savedInstructionsVariables, savedIssueTitleTemplate]);
 
   // Stage secrets hydrate from the backing routine's derived env. Re-running on
   // the serialized saved env clears the dirty state after a save/refetch.
@@ -1703,19 +1784,16 @@ export function PipelineSettings() {
         variables: stripVariablesByName(instructionsVariables, resolvedAutomationVariableKeys),
         disabled: newEntriesDisabled,
         disabledReason: newEntriesDisabled ? disableReason.trim() || null : null,
-        automation: {
-          assigneeAgentId: stageAssigneeAgentId || null,
+        automation: buildStageAutomationForSave({
+          assigneeAgentId: stageAssigneeAgentId,
+          titleTemplate: issueTitleTemplate,
           instructionsBody,
-          projectId: stageProjectId || null,
-          projectWorkspaceId: stageProjectId && stageProjectWorkspaceId ? stageProjectWorkspaceId : null,
-          executionWorkspaceId:
-            stageProjectId && stageExecutionWorkspacePreference === "reuse_existing" && stageExecutionWorkspaceId
-              ? stageExecutionWorkspaceId
-              : null,
-          executionWorkspacePreference:
-            stageProjectId && stageExecutionWorkspacePreference ? stageExecutionWorkspacePreference : null,
+          projectId: stageProjectId,
+          projectWorkspaceId: stageProjectWorkspaceId,
+          executionWorkspaceId: stageExecutionWorkspaceId,
+          executionWorkspacePreference: stageExecutionWorkspacePreference,
           executionWorkspaceSettings: currentAutomationExecutionWorkspaceSettings,
-        },
+        }),
         requireApproval: nextRequiresApproval,
         approver: nextRequiresApproval && parsedApproval.kind !== "any_human"
           ? { kind: parsedApproval.kind, id: parsedApproval.id }
@@ -2113,11 +2191,14 @@ export function PipelineSettings() {
           stageProjectId && stageExecutionWorkspacePreference === "reuse_existing" ? stageExecutionWorkspaceId : "",
         automationExecutionWorkspacePreference: stageProjectId ? stageExecutionWorkspacePreference : "",
         automationExecutionWorkspaceSettings: currentAutomationExecutionWorkspaceSettings,
+        automationTitleTemplate: pipelineAutomationTitleTemplate(issueTitleTemplate),
       }
     : null;
   const selectedStageKindOption =
     STAGE_KIND_OPTIONS.find((option) => option.value === stageKind) ?? STAGE_KIND_OPTIONS[0]!;
   const SelectedStageKindIcon = selectedStageKindOption.icon;
+  const issueTitleTemplateDirty =
+    selectedStage != null && pipelineAutomationTitleTemplate(issueTitleTemplate) !== savedIssueTitleTemplate;
   const instructionsBodyDirty = selectedStage != null && instructionsBody !== savedInstructionsBody;
   const variablesDirty =
     selectedStage != null &&
@@ -2129,6 +2210,7 @@ export function PipelineSettings() {
     (savedStageForm != null &&
       currentStageForm != null &&
       JSON.stringify(savedStageForm) !== JSON.stringify(currentStageForm)) ||
+    issueTitleTemplateDirty ||
     instructionsBodyDirty ||
     variablesDirty;
 
@@ -2977,6 +3059,21 @@ export function PipelineSettings() {
                             <AgentIcon icon={selectedAutomationAgent.icon} className="h-4 w-4 shrink-0" />
                             <span>{selectedAutomationAgent.name} runs this step automatically.</span>
                           </div>
+                          <FieldRow label="Issue title">
+                            <Input
+                              ref={issueTitleTemplateInputRef}
+                              aria-label="Issue title template"
+                              value={issueTitleTemplate}
+                              onChange={(event) => setIssueTitleTemplate(event.target.value)}
+                              placeholder={PIPELINE_AUTOMATION_DEFAULT_TITLE_TEMPLATE}
+                              className="font-mono text-sm"
+                            />
+                          </FieldRow>
+                          <AutomationVariableTokenHelper
+                            groups={automationVariableGroups}
+                            onInsert={insertIssueTitleVariableToken}
+                            label="Issue title variables"
+                          />
                           {breakdownEnabled ? (
                             <div className="space-y-1">
                               <h3 className="text-sm font-semibold text-foreground">What should the agent decide?</h3>
@@ -3007,11 +3104,11 @@ export function PipelineSettings() {
                           </div>
                           <AutomationVariableTokenHelper
                             groups={automationVariableGroups}
-                            onInsert={insertAutomationVariableToken}
+                            onInsert={insertInstructionsVariableToken}
                           />
                           <CarriedFieldTokenHelper
                             groups={incomingCarryOverFieldGroups}
-                            onInsert={insertAutomationVariableToken}
+                            onInsert={insertInstructionsVariableToken}
                           />
                         </>
                       ) : (
@@ -3021,11 +3118,10 @@ export function PipelineSettings() {
                         />
                       )}
                       <div className="space-y-3">
-                        <RoutineVariablesHint
-                        />
+                        <RoutineVariablesHint />
                         <RoutineVariablesEditor
                           key={selectedStage?.id ?? "stage"}
-                          title={stageName}
+                          title={issueTitleTemplate}
                           description={instructionsBody}
                           value={instructionsVariables}
                           onChange={setInstructionsVariables}