diff --git a/server/src/__tests__/agent-skills-routes.test.ts b/server/src/__tests__/agent-skills-routes.test.ts
index eb71a0824..bb3dd17bf 100644
--- a/server/src/__tests__/agent-skills-routes.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/__tests__/agent-skills-routes.test.ts
@@ -369,6 +369,30 @@ describe("agent skill routes", () => {
     );
   });
 
+  it("materializes the bundled default instruction set for non-CEO agents with no prompt template", async () => {
+    const res = await request(createApp())
+      .post("/api/companies/company-1/agents")
+      .send({
+        name: "Engineer",
+        role: "engineer",
+        adapterType: "claude_local",
+        adapterConfig: {},
+      });
+
+    expect(res.status, JSON.stringify(res.body)).toBe(201);
+    expect(mockAgentInstructionsService.materializeManagedBundle).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        id: "11111111-1111-4111-8111-111111111111",
+        role: "engineer",
+        adapterType: "claude_local",
+      }),
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        "AGENTS.md": expect.stringContaining("Keep the work moving until it's done."),
+      }),
+      { entryFile: "AGENTS.md", replaceExisting: false },
+    );
+  });
+
   it("includes canonical desired skills in hire approvals", async () => {
     const db = createDb(true);
 
diff --git a/server/src/onboarding-assets/default/AGENTS.md b/server/src/onboarding-assets/default/AGENTS.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2f84898a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/onboarding-assets/default/AGENTS.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+You are an agent at Paperclip company.
+
+Keep the work moving until it's done. If you need QA to review it, ask them. If you need your boss to review it, ask them. If someone needs to unblock you, assign them the ticket with a comment asking for what you need. Don't let work just sit here. You must always update your task with a comment.
diff --git a/server/src/routes/agents.ts b/server/src/routes/agents.ts
index 13d374c6d..b568216c1 100644
--- a/server/src/routes/agents.ts
+++ b/server/src/routes/agents.ts
@@ -56,7 +56,10 @@ import {
 import { DEFAULT_CURSOR_LOCAL_MODEL } from "@paperclipai/adapter-cursor-local";
 import { DEFAULT_GEMINI_LOCAL_MODEL } from "@paperclipai/adapter-gemini-local";
 import { ensureOpenCodeModelConfiguredAndAvailable } from "@paperclipai/adapter-opencode-local/server";
-import { loadDefaultAgentInstructionsBundle } from "../services/default-agent-instructions.js";
+import {
+  loadDefaultAgentInstructionsBundle,
+  resolveDefaultAgentInstructionsBundleRole,
+} from "../services/default-agent-instructions.js";
 
 export function agentRoutes(db: Db) {
   const DEFAULT_INSTRUCTIONS_PATH_KEYS: Record<string, string> = {
@@ -432,8 +435,8 @@ export function agentRoutes(db: Db) {
     const promptTemplate = typeof adapterConfig.promptTemplate === "string"
       ? adapterConfig.promptTemplate
       : "";
-    const files = agent.role === "ceo" && promptTemplate.trim().length === 0
-      ? await loadDefaultAgentInstructionsBundle("ceo")
+    const files = promptTemplate.trim().length === 0
+      ? await loadDefaultAgentInstructionsBundle(resolveDefaultAgentInstructionsBundleRole(agent.role))
       : { "AGENTS.md": promptTemplate };
     const materialized = await instructions.materializeManagedBundle(
       agent,
diff --git a/server/src/services/default-agent-instructions.ts b/server/src/services/default-agent-instructions.ts
index 68ed27345..4278d8332 100644
--- a/server/src/services/default-agent-instructions.ts
+++ b/server/src/services/default-agent-instructions.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import fs from "node:fs/promises";
 
 const DEFAULT_AGENT_BUNDLE_FILES = {
+  default: ["AGENTS.md"],
   ceo: ["AGENTS.md", "HEARTBEAT.md", "SOUL.md", "TOOLS.md"],
 } as const;
 
@@ -20,3 +21,7 @@ export async function loadDefaultAgentInstructionsBundle(role: DefaultAgentBundl
   );
   return Object.fromEntries(entries);
 }
+
+export function resolveDefaultAgentInstructionsBundleRole(role: string): DefaultAgentBundleRole {
+  return role === "ceo" ? "ceo" : "default";
+}