diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/automations/templating/__init__.py b/surfsense_backend/app/automations/templating/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8a00ec5ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/automations/templating/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+"""Sandboxed template engine for automation definitions."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from .context import build_run_context
+from .render import evaluate_predicate, render_template
+
+__all__ = [
+    "build_run_context",
+    "evaluate_predicate",
+    "render_template",
+]
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/automations/templating/context.py b/surfsense_backend/app/automations/templating/context.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3ca87694c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/automations/templating/context.py
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+"""Builder for the ``{run, inputs, steps}`` namespace exposed to every template."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from collections.abc import Mapping
+from datetime import datetime
+from typing import Any
+
+
+def build_run_context(
+    *,
+    run_id: int,
+    automation_id: int,
+    automation_name: str | None,
+    automation_version: int | None,
+    search_space_id: int | None,
+    creator_id: Any,
+    trigger_id: int | None,
+    trigger_type: str | None,
+    started_at: datetime | None,
+    attempt: int,
+    resolved_inputs: Mapping[str, Any],
+    step_outputs: Mapping[str, Any],
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Build the ``{run, inputs, steps}`` namespace exposed to every template."""
+    return {
+        "run": {
+            "id": run_id,
+            "automation_id": automation_id,
+            "automation_name": automation_name,
+            "automation_version": automation_version,
+            "search_space_id": search_space_id,
+            "creator_id": creator_id,
+            "trigger_id": trigger_id,
+            "trigger_type": trigger_type,
+            "started_at": started_at,
+            "attempt": attempt,
+        },
+        "inputs": dict(resolved_inputs),
+        "steps": dict(step_outputs),
+    }