diff --git a/src/psyc/db.py b/src/psyc/db.py
index 1b12436..273154c 100644
--- a/src/psyc/db.py
+++ b/src/psyc/db.py
@@ -114,6 +114,26 @@ Index("iocs_value_idx", iocs.c.value)
 Index("iocs_type_idx", iocs.c.ioc_type)
 Index("iocs_case_idx", iocs.c.case_id)
 
+pulse_pipelines = Table(
+    "pulse_pipelines", _metadata,
+    Column("name", String, primary_key=True),
+    Column("title", String, nullable=False),
+    Column("description", Text, nullable=False, default=""),
+    Column("mode", String, nullable=False),                  # manual | auto-propose | auto-execute
+    Column("cadence_seconds", Integer, nullable=False),
+    Column("enabled", Boolean, nullable=False, default=True),
+    Column("last_fired", String, nullable=True),             # ISO timestamp or NULL
+    Column("next_fire", String, nullable=True),              # ISO timestamp or NULL
+    Column("last_result", Text, nullable=False, default=""),
+    Column("last_outcome", String, nullable=False, default=""),  # ok | err | skipped | ""
+)
+
+pulse_settings = Table(
+    "pulse_settings", _metadata,
+    Column("key", String, primary_key=True),
+    Column("value", String, nullable=False),
+)
+
 
 _log = log.get(__name__)
 _engine: Optional[Engine] = None
@@ -214,3 +234,53 @@ def ioc_count(db_path: Path = DB_PATH) -> int:
     stmt = select(func.count()).select_from(iocs)
     with engine(db_path).connect() as conn:
         return conn.execute(stmt).scalar_one()
+
+
+# ---------- pulse scheduler ----------------------------------------------
+
+def get_pulse_state(db_path: Path = DB_PATH) -> List[dict]:
+    """Every registered pipeline, ordered by name."""
+    stmt = select(pulse_pipelines).order_by(pulse_pipelines.c.name)
+    with engine(db_path).connect() as conn:
+        return [dict(r._mapping) for r in conn.execute(stmt).fetchall()]
+
+
+def upsert_pulse_pipeline(row: dict, db_path: Path = DB_PATH) -> None:
+    """Insert or update one pipeline by name."""
+    stmt = sqlite_insert(pulse_pipelines).values(**row)
+    stmt = stmt.on_conflict_do_update(
+        index_elements=[pulse_pipelines.c.name],
+        set_=dict(
+            title=stmt.excluded.title,
+            description=stmt.excluded.description,
+            mode=stmt.excluded.mode,
+            cadence_seconds=stmt.excluded.cadence_seconds,
+            enabled=stmt.excluded.enabled,
+            last_fired=stmt.excluded.last_fired,
+            next_fire=stmt.excluded.next_fire,
+            last_result=stmt.excluded.last_result,
+            last_outcome=stmt.excluded.last_outcome,
+        ),
+    )
+    with engine(db_path).begin() as conn:
+        conn.execute(stmt)
+
+
+def kill_switch_get(db_path: Path = DB_PATH) -> bool:
+    stmt = select(pulse_settings.c.value).where(pulse_settings.c.key == "kill_switch")
+    with engine(db_path).connect() as conn:
+        row = conn.execute(stmt).fetchone()
+    if row is None:
+        return False
+    return str(row.value) == "1"
+
+
+def kill_switch_set(armed: bool, db_path: Path = DB_PATH) -> None:
+    value = "1" if armed else "0"
+    stmt = sqlite_insert(pulse_settings).values(key="kill_switch", value=value)
+    stmt = stmt.on_conflict_do_update(
+        index_elements=[pulse_settings.c.key],
+        set_=dict(value=stmt.excluded.value),
+    )
+    with engine(db_path).begin() as conn:
+        conn.execute(stmt)