diff --git a/.github/workflows/README.md b/.github/workflows/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c37cf24d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+# GitHub Actions Workflows
+
+This directory contains CI/CD workflows for the DeepWork project. We use GitHub's merge queue for efficient testing.
+
+## Workflow Overview
+
+| Workflow | File | Purpose |
+|----------|------|---------|
+| **Validate** | `validate.yml` | Linting (ruff) and unit tests |
+| **Integration Tests** | `claude-code-test.yml` | Command generation and e2e tests |
+| **CLA Assistant** | `cla.yml` | Contributor License Agreement verification |
+| **Release** | `release.yml` | PyPI publishing on tags |
+
+## Merge Queue Strategy
+
+We use a skip pattern so the same required checks pass in both PR and merge queue contexts:
+
+| Workflow | On PRs | In Merge Queue |
+|----------|--------|----------------|
+| **Validate** | Runs | Runs |
+| **Integration Tests** | Skipped (passes) | Runs |
+| **E2E Tests** | Skipped (passes) | Runs |
+| **CLA Check** | Runs | Skipped (passes) |
+
+### How It Works
+
+Jobs/steps use `if: github.event_name == 'merge_group'` conditions to control execution:
+
+```yaml
+# Job that only runs in merge queue (skipped on PRs)
+jobs:
+  expensive-tests:
+    if: github.event_name == 'merge_group' || github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch'
+    ...
+
+# Step that skips in merge queue (runs on PRs only)
+steps:
+  - name: CLA Check
+    if: github.event_name != 'merge_group'
+    ...
+```
+
+When a job/step is skipped due to an `if` condition, GitHub treats it as a successful check. This allows:
+
+- **Fast PR feedback**: Only lint + unit tests run on every push
+- **Thorough merge validation**: Expensive integration/e2e tests run in merge queue before merging
+- **No duplicate CLA checks**: CLA is verified on PRs; no need to re-check in merge queue
+
+### Required Checks Configuration
+
+In GitHub branch protection rules, require these checks:
+- `Validate / tests`
+- `Claude Code Integration Test / validate-generation`
+- `Claude Code Integration Test / claude-code-e2e`
+- `CLA Assistant / cla-check`
+
+All checks will pass in both PR and merge queue contexts (either by running or by being skipped).
+
+## Workflow Details
+
+### validate.yml
+- **Triggers**: `pull_request`, `merge_group`
+- **Jobs**: `tests` - runs ruff format/lint checks and pytest unit tests
+- Runs on every PR and in merge queue
+
+### claude-code-test.yml
+- **Triggers**: `pull_request`, `merge_group`, `workflow_dispatch`
+- **Jobs**:
+  - `validate-generation`: Tests command generation from fixtures (no API key needed)
+  - `claude-code-e2e`: Full end-to-end test with Claude Code CLI (requires `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY`)
+- Both jobs skip on PRs, run in merge queue and manual dispatch
+
+### cla.yml
+- **Triggers**: `pull_request_target`, `issue_comment`, `merge_group`
+- **Jobs**: `cla-check` - verifies contributors have signed the CLA
+- Runs on PRs, skips in merge queue (CLA already verified)
+
+### release.yml
+- **Triggers**: Tags matching `v*`
+- **Jobs**: Builds and publishes to PyPI
diff --git a/.github/workflows/cla.yml b/.github/workflows/cla.yml
index ba8f9e48..118f7e8b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/cla.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/cla.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ on:
     types: [created]
   pull_request_target:
     types: [opened, synchronize]
+  # Run in merge queue but skip the step (shows as passing check)
+  merge_group:
 
 # Explicitly set permissions for the workflow
 permissions:
@@ -18,7 +20,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: "CLA Assistant"
-        if: (github.event.comment.body == 'recheck' || github.event.comment.body == 'I have read the CLA Document and I hereby sign the CLA') || github.event_name == 'pull_request_target'
+        if: github.event_name != 'merge_group' && ((github.event.comment.body == 'recheck' || github.event.comment.body == 'I have read the CLA Document and I hereby sign the CLA') || github.event_name == 'pull_request_target')
         uses: contributor-assistant/github-action@v2.6.1
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/claude-code-test.yml b/.github/workflows/claude-code-test.yml
index 502d4338..84e888d0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/claude-code-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/claude-code-test.yml
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ on:
         required: false
         default: 'false'
         type: boolean
+  # Run on all PRs (shows as check, but steps skip unless in merge queue)
+  pull_request:
   # Run in the merge queue to validate before merging
   merge_group:
 
@@ -18,9 +20,11 @@ concurrency:
   cancel-in-progress: true
 
 jobs:
-  # Job 1: Validate command generation from fixtures (always runs, no API key needed)
+  # Job 1: Validate command generation from fixtures (no API key needed)
+  # Runs on merge_group and workflow_dispatch, skipped on PRs (shows as passing check)
   validate-generation:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: github.event_name == 'merge_group' || github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch'
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
@@ -80,10 +84,11 @@ jobs:
 
   # Job 2: Full end-to-end test with Claude Code
   # Tests the COMPLETE workflow: define job -> implement -> execute
+  # Runs on merge_group and workflow_dispatch, skipped on PRs (shows as passing check)
   claude-code-e2e:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs: validate-generation
-    if: github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' || github.event_name == 'merge_group'
+    if: github.event_name == 'merge_group' || github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch'
     env:
       ANTHROPIC_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY }}
     steps: