diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-fmt.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-fmt.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 7982fb0ba..000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-fmt.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,38 +0,0 @@
-name: Run CI - Format
-
-concurrency:
-  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}
-  cancel-in-progress: true
-
-on:
-  push:
-    branches: [master, dev]
-  pull_request:
-    types: [opened, reopened, synchronize, ready_for_review]
-
-jobs:
-  run_make_ci_format:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - name: Checkout this magicblock-validator
-        uses: actions/checkout@v2
-        with:
-          path: magicblock-validator
-
-      - uses: ./magicblock-validator/.github/actions/setup-build-env
-        with:
-          build_cache_key_name: "magicblock-validator-ci-fmt-v001"
-          rust_toolchain_release: "nightly"
-          github_access_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-
-      - run: make ci-fmt
-        shell: bash
-        working-directory: magicblock-validator
-
-      - name: Run ci-fmt in test-integration
-        run: |
-          cd test-integration
-          make ci-fmt
-        shell: bash
-        working-directory: magicblock-validator
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-lint.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-lint.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 7a83a1ade..000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-lint.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,38 +0,0 @@
-name: Run CI - Lint
-
-concurrency:
-  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}
-  cancel-in-progress: true
-
-on:
-  push:
-    branches: [master, dev]
-  pull_request:
-    types: [opened, reopened, synchronize, ready_for_review]
-
-jobs:
-  run_make_ci_lint:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - name: Checkout this magicblock-validator
-        uses: actions/checkout@v2
-        with:
-          path: magicblock-validator
-
-      - uses: ./magicblock-validator/.github/actions/setup-build-env
-        with:
-          build_cache_key_name: "magicblock-validator-ci-lint-v002"
-          rust_toolchain_release: "1.91.1"
-          github_access_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-
-      - run: make ci-lint
-        shell: bash
-        working-directory: magicblock-validator
-
-      - name: Run ci-lint in test-integration
-        run: |
-          cd test-integration
-          make ci-lint
-        shell: bash
-        working-directory: magicblock-validator
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-test-integration.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-test-integration.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 5980aaec4..000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-test-integration.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,82 +0,0 @@
-name: Run CI - Integration Tests
-
-concurrency:
-  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}
-  cancel-in-progress: true
-
-on:
-  push:
-    branches: [master, dev]
-  pull_request:
-    types: [opened, reopened, synchronize, ready_for_review]
-
-jobs:
-  build:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest-m
-    name: Build Project
-    steps:
-      - name: Checkout this magicblock-validator
-        uses: actions/checkout@v5
-        with:
-          path: magicblock-validator
-
-      - uses: ./magicblock-validator/.github/actions/setup-build-env
-        with:
-          build_cache_key_name: "magicblock-validator-ci-test-integration-${{ github.ref_name }}-${{ hashFiles('magicblock-validator/Cargo.lock') }}"
-          rust_toolchain_release: "1.91.1"
-          github_access_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-
-      - uses: ./magicblock-validator/.github/actions/setup-solana
-
-      - name: Build project and test programs
-        run: |
-          cargo build --locked
-          make -C test-integration programs
-        shell: bash
-        working-directory: magicblock-validator
-
-  run_integration_tests:
-    needs: build
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest-m
-    strategy:
-      matrix:
-        batch_tests:
-          - "schedulecommit"
-          - "chainlink"
-          - "cloning"
-          - "restore_ledger"
-          - "magicblock_api"
-          - "config"
-          - "table_mania"
-          - "committor"
-          - "pubsub"
-          - "schedule_intents"
-          - "task-scheduler"
-      fail-fast: false
-    name: Integration Tests - ${{ matrix.batch_tests }}
-    steps:
-      - name: Checkout this magicblock-validator
-        uses: actions/checkout@v5
-        with:
-          path: magicblock-validator
-
-      - uses: ./magicblock-validator/.github/actions/setup-build-env
-        with:
-          build_cache_key_name: "magicblock-validator-ci-test-integration-${{ github.ref_name }}-${{ hashFiles('magicblock-validator/Cargo.lock') }}"
-          rust_toolchain_release: "1.84.1"
-          github_access_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-
-      - uses: ./magicblock-validator/.github/actions/setup-solana
-
-      - name: Run integration tests - ${{ matrix.batch_tests }}
-        run: |
-          sudo prlimit --pid $$ --nofile=1048576:1048576
-          sudo sysctl fs.inotify.max_user_instances=1280
-          sudo sysctl fs.inotify.max_user_watches=655360
-          make ci-test-integration
-        shell: bash
-        working-directory: magicblock-validator
-        env:
-          RUN_TESTS: ${{ matrix.batch_tests }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-test-unit.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-test-unit.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 8061769fe..000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-test-unit.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,38 +0,0 @@
-name: Run CI - Unit Tests
-
-concurrency:
-  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}
-  cancel-in-progress: true
-
-on:
-  push:
-    branches: [master, dev]
-  pull_request:
-    types: [opened, reopened, synchronize, ready_for_review]
-
-jobs:
-  run_make_ci_test:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest-m
-    steps:
-      - name: Checkout this magicblock-validator
-        uses: actions/checkout@v2
-        with:
-          path: magicblock-validator
-
-      - uses: ./magicblock-validator/.github/actions/setup-build-env
-        with:
-          build_cache_key_name: "magicblock-validator-ci-test-unit-v001"
-          rust_toolchain_release: "1.91.1"
-          github_access_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-
-      - uses: ./magicblock-validator/.github/actions/setup-solana
-
-      - name: Run unit tests
-        run: |
-          sudo prlimit --pid $$ --nofile=1048576:1048576
-          sudo sysctl fs.inotify.max_user_instances=1280
-          sudo sysctl fs.inotify.max_user_watches=655360
-          make ci-test-unit
-        shell: bash
-        working-directory: magicblock-validator
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8b2e94fb8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,174 @@
+name: CI
+
+concurrency:
+  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.head_ref || github.ref_name }}
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches: [master, dev]
+  pull_request:
+    types: [opened, reopened, synchronize]
+
+jobs:
+  prepare-env:
+    runs-on: self-hosted
+    outputs:
+      target_dir: ${{ steps.calc.outputs.dir }}
+    steps:
+      - id: calc
+        env:
+          REF_NAME: ${{ github.ref_name }}
+          REPO_NAME: ${{ github.event.repository.name }}
+        run: |
+          SAFE_BRANCH=$(echo "$REF_NAME" | tr '/' '-')
+          TARGET_DIR="/var/lib/gh-runners/global-targets/${REPO_NAME}-${SAFE_BRANCH}"
+          mkdir -p "$TARGET_DIR"
+          echo "dir=$TARGET_DIR" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+
+  build:
+    needs: prepare-env
+    runs-on: self-hosted
+    env:
+      CARGO_TARGET_DIR: ${{ needs.prepare-env.outputs.target_dir }}
+      CARGO_INCREMENTAL: 1
+      CARGO_BUILD_JOBS: 30
+      RUSTFLAGS: -C link-arg=-fuse-ld=mold
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        with:
+          submodules: recursive
+
+      - name: Build SBF programs
+        env:
+          RUSTFLAGS: ""
+        run: |
+          (
+            unset CARGO_TARGET_DIR
+            make -C test-integration programs
+            make chainlink-prep-programs -C test-integration/test-chainlink
+          )
+
+      - name: Build binaries and tests
+        run: cargo build --bins --tests --locked
+
+      - name: Format check
+        run: make ci-fmt
+
+      - name: Lint
+        run: make ci-lint
+
+      - name: Unit tests
+        run: make ci-test-unit
+
+      - name: Pre-fetch integration test dependencies
+        run: cargo test --test '*' --no-run
+
+      - name: Cache SBF artifacts
+        run: |
+          SBF_CACHE_DIR="$CARGO_TARGET_DIR/sbf-artifacts"
+          mkdir -p "$SBF_CACHE_DIR/test-integration" "$SBF_CACHE_DIR/root"
+
+          if [ -d "test-integration/target/deploy" ]; then
+            find test-integration/target/deploy -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -exec cp -r {} "$SBF_CACHE_DIR/test-integration/" \;
+          else
+            echo "::warning::test-integration/target/deploy not found"
+          fi
+
+          if ls target/deploy/*.so >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            cp target/deploy/*.so "$SBF_CACHE_DIR/root/"
+          else
+            echo "::warning::No SBF artifacts found in target/deploy"
+          fi
+
+  integration-tests:
+    needs: [prepare-env, build]
+    runs-on: self-hosted
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        batch:
+          - "committor config"
+          - "restore_ledger schedulecommit"
+          - "table_mania cloning"
+          - "magicblock_api schedule_intents"
+          - "task-scheduler chainlink pubsub"
+    env:
+      TMPDIR: /dev/shm
+      CARGO_NET_OFFLINE: "true"
+      CARGO_BUILD_JOBS: 6
+      NEXTEST_RETRIES: 0
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        with:
+          submodules: recursive
+
+      - name: Restore source file timestamps
+        run: git restore-mtime
+
+      - name: Link pre-built artifacts
+        run: |
+          GLOBAL_TARGET="${{ needs.prepare-env.outputs.target_dir }}"
+          mkdir -p target
+
+          if ! cp -rl "$GLOBAL_TARGET/debug" target/ 2>/dev/null; then
+            echo "::warning::Hardlink failed (cross-device?), falling back to copy"
+            cp -r "$GLOBAL_TARGET/debug" target/
+          fi
+
+          rm -rf target/debug/incremental
+
+      - name: Restore SBF artifacts
+        run: |
+          SBF_CACHE_DIR="${{ needs.prepare-env.outputs.target_dir }}/sbf-artifacts"
+
+          LOCAL_DEPLOY_TEST="test-integration/target/deploy"
+          mkdir -p "$LOCAL_DEPLOY_TEST"
+          if [ -d "$SBF_CACHE_DIR/test-integration" ]; then
+            find "$SBF_CACHE_DIR/test-integration" -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -exec cp -r {} "$LOCAL_DEPLOY_TEST/" \;
+            find "$LOCAL_DEPLOY_TEST" -type f -exec touch {} +
+          else
+            echo "::warning::No cached SBF artifacts for test-integration"
+          fi
+
+          LOCAL_DEPLOY_ROOT="target/deploy"
+          mkdir -p "$LOCAL_DEPLOY_ROOT"
+          if ls "$SBF_CACHE_DIR/root"/*.so >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            cp "$SBF_CACHE_DIR/root"/*.so "$LOCAL_DEPLOY_ROOT/"
+            touch "$LOCAL_DEPLOY_ROOT"/*.so
+          else
+            echo "::warning::No cached SBF artifacts for root"
+          fi
+
+      - name: "Integration: ${{ matrix.batch }}"
+        env:
+          TEST_BATCH: ${{ matrix.batch }}
+        run: |
+          unshare -r -n bash -c '
+            set -euo pipefail
+            ip link set lo up
+            FAILED=""
+            for test in $TEST_BATCH; do
+              echo "========== Running: $test =========="
+              if ! RUN_TESTS=$test make ci-test-integration PROGRAMS_SO= SKIP_CHAINLINK_PREP=1; then
+                FAILED="$FAILED $test"
+              fi
+            done
+            if [ -n "$FAILED" ]; then
+              echo "::error::Failed test suites:$FAILED"
+              exit 1
+            fi
+          '
+
+  ci-status:
+    if: always()
+    needs: [build, integration-tests]
+    runs-on: self-hosted
+    steps:
+      - name: Verify pipeline status
+        run: |
+          if [[ "${{ needs.build.result }}" != "success" ||
+                "${{ needs.integration-tests.result }}" != "success" ]]; then
+            echo "::error::CI failed"
+            exit 1
+          fi
diff --git a/magicblock-api/src/magic_validator.rs b/magicblock-api/src/magic_validator.rs
index aca45c5eb..3bdd9f237 100644
--- a/magicblock-api/src/magic_validator.rs
+++ b/magicblock-api/src/magic_validator.rs
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ impl MagicValidator {
         let accounts_bank = accountsdb.clone();
         let mut chainlink_config =
             ChainlinkConfig::default_with_lifecycle_mode(
-                LifecycleMode::Ephemeral,
+                config.lifecycle.clone(),
             )
             .with_remove_confined_accounts(
                 config.chainlink.remove_confined_accounts,
diff --git a/test-integration/Makefile b/test-integration/Makefile
index 95ff8551e..1c82858f2 100644
--- a/test-integration/Makefile
+++ b/test-integration/Makefile
@@ -3,6 +3,13 @@ DIR := $(dir $(abspath $(lastword $(MAKEFILE_LIST))))
 DEPLOY_DIR := $(DIR)target/deploy
 ROOT_DEPLOY_DIR := $(DIR)../target/deploy
 
+# Use CARGO_TARGET_DIR if provided by the environment (CI),
+# otherwise default to ../target for local development.
+CARGO_TARGET_DIR ?= $(DIR)../target
+
+# Prebuilt test-runner binary path (dev profile)
+TEST_RUNNER_BIN := $(CARGO_TARGET_DIR)/debug/run-tests
+
 RUST_LOG ?= 'warn,geyser_plugin=warn,magicblock=trace,magicblock_chainlink::remote_account_provider::chain_pubsub_actor=debug,rpc=trace,bank=trace,banking_stage=warn,solana_geyser_plugin_manager=warn,solana_svm=warn,test_tools=trace,schedulecommit_test=trace,'
 
 FLEXI_COUNTER_DIR := $(DIR)programs/flexi-counter
@@ -30,10 +37,21 @@ list-programs:
 programs: $(PROGRAMS_SO)
 
 test: $(PROGRAMS_SO)
-	$(MAKE) chainlink-prep-programs -C ./test-chainlink && \
-	RUST_BACKTRACE=1 \
-	RUST_LOG=$(RUST_LOG) \
-	cargo run --package test-runner --bin run-tests
+	@# Only prepare chainlink programs when running chainlink tests
+	@if [ -z "$(SKIP_CHAINLINK_PREP)" ] && ([ -z "$(RUN_TESTS)" ] || [ "$(RUN_TESTS)" = "chainlink" ]); then \
+		echo "Preparing chainlink programs (RUN_TESTS=$(RUN_TESTS))"; \
+		$(MAKE) chainlink-prep-programs -C ./test-chainlink; \
+	else \
+		echo "Skipping chainlink-prep-programs (SKIP_CHAINLINK_PREP=$(SKIP_CHAINLINK_PREP), RUN_TESTS=$(RUN_TESTS))"; \
+	fi
+	@# Prefer running the prebuilt test-runner binary to avoid concurrent Cargo locking
+	@if [ -x "$(TEST_RUNNER_BIN)" ]; then \
+		echo "Using prebuilt test-runner binary: $(TEST_RUNNER_BIN)"; \
+		CARGO_TEST_THREADS=$${CARGO_TEST_THREADS:-1} CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR=$(DIR)test-runner RUST_BACKTRACE=1 RUST_LOG=$(RUST_LOG) $(TEST_RUNNER_BIN); \
+	else \
+		echo "test-runner binary not found, falling back to 'cargo run'"; \
+		CARGO_TEST_THREADS=$${CARGO_TEST_THREADS:-1} RUST_BACKTRACE=1 RUST_LOG=$(RUST_LOG) cargo run --package test-runner --bin run-tests; \
+	fi
 
 test-force-mb: $(PROGRAMS_SO)
 	RUST_LOG=$(RUST_LOG) \
diff --git a/test-integration/test-runner/bin/run_tests.rs b/test-integration/test-runner/bin/run_tests.rs
index 6a5a6e9c7..8d117337c 100644
--- a/test-integration/test-runner/bin/run_tests.rs
+++ b/test-integration/test-runner/bin/run_tests.rs
@@ -784,13 +784,19 @@ fn run_test(
         std::env::var("RUST_LOG").unwrap_or_else(|_| "info".to_string()),
     )
     .arg("test");
+    if std::env::var("CARGO_NET_OFFLINE").as_deref() == Ok("true") {
+        cmd.arg("--offline");
+    }
     if let Some(package) = config.package {
         cmd.arg("-p").arg(package);
     }
     if let Some(test) = config.test {
         cmd.arg(format!("'{}'", test));
     }
-    cmd.arg("--").arg("--test-threads=1").arg("--nocapture");
+    let test_threads = std::env::var("CARGO_TEST_THREADS").unwrap_or_else(|_| "1".to_string());
+    cmd.arg("--")
+        .arg(format!("--test-threads={}", test_threads))
+        .arg("--nocapture");
     cmd.current_dir(manifest_dir.clone());
     Teepee::new(cmd).output()
 }
diff --git a/test-integration/test-tools/src/toml_to_args.rs b/test-integration/test-tools/src/toml_to_args.rs
index 2d9025db8..8bb81cb9d 100644
--- a/test-integration/test-tools/src/toml_to_args.rs
+++ b/test-integration/test-tools/src/toml_to_args.rs
@@ -80,9 +80,42 @@ pub fn config_to_args(
 
         args.push(program.id);
 
-        let resolved_full_config_path =
-            config_dir.join(&program.path).canonicalize().unwrap();
-        args.push(resolved_full_config_path.to_str().unwrap().to_string());
+        let full_path_to_resolve = config_dir.join(&program.path);
+        match fs::canonicalize(&full_path_to_resolve) {
+            Ok(path) => {
+                args.push(path.to_str().unwrap().to_string());
+            }
+            Err(e) => {
+                let abs_config_dir = fs::canonicalize(config_dir).unwrap_or(config_dir.to_path_buf());
+                eprintln!(
+                    "Error: Failed to resolve program path.\n\
+                     Config Dir: {:?}\n\
+                     Relative Path: {:?}\n\
+                     Resolution Attempt: {:?}\n\
+                     OS Error: {:?}",
+                    abs_config_dir,
+                    program.path,
+                    full_path_to_resolve,
+                    e
+                );
+                
+                // List directory contents to aid debugging in CI environments
+                if let Some(parent) = full_path_to_resolve.parent() {
+                    eprintln!("Directory contents of {:?}:", parent);
+                    if let Ok(entries) = fs::read_dir(parent) {
+                        for entry in entries {
+                            if let Ok(entry) = entry {
+                                eprintln!(" - {:?}", entry.file_name());
+                            }
+                        }
+                    } else {
+                        eprintln!(" (Unable to read directory)");
+                    }
+                }
+                
+                panic!("Program file not found: {:?}", full_path_to_resolve);
+            }
+        }
 
         if program_loader == ProgramLoader::UpgradeableProgram {
             if let Some(auth) = program.auth {
diff --git a/test-integration/test-tools/src/validator.rs b/test-integration/test-tools/src/validator.rs
index 6b9080a22..c70eff3e3 100644
--- a/test-integration/test-tools/src/validator.rs
+++ b/test-integration/test-tools/src/validator.rs
@@ -32,26 +32,37 @@ pub fn start_magic_block_validator_with_config(
     } = test_runner_paths;
 
     let port = rpc_port_from_config(config_path);
-
-    // First build so that the validator can start fast
-    let mut command = process::Command::new("cargo");
     let keypair_base58 = loaded_chain_accounts.validator_authority_base58();
-    command.arg("build");
-    let build_res = command.current_dir(root_dir.clone()).output();
 
-    if build_res.is_ok_and(|output| !output.status.success()) {
-        eprintln!("Failed to build validator");
-        return None;
-    }
+    // Check if we should use a prebuilt binary (faster in CI)
+    let workspace_dir = resolve_workspace_dir();
+    let target_dir = std::env::var("CARGO_TARGET_DIR")
+        .map(PathBuf::from)
+        .unwrap_or_else(|_| workspace_dir.join("../target"));
+    
+    let validator_bin = target_dir.join("debug/magicblock-validator");
+
+    let mut command = if validator_bin.exists() {
+        eprintln!("Using prebuilt validator binary: {:?}", validator_bin);
+        let mut cmd = process::Command::new(validator_bin);
+        cmd.arg(config_path);
+        cmd
+    } else {
+        eprintln!("Prebuilt validator not found at {:?}, falling back to cargo run", validator_bin);
+        // Fallback for local development
+        let mut cmd = process::Command::new("cargo");
+        cmd.arg("run")
+           .arg("-p")
+           .arg("magicblock-validator")
+           .arg("--")
+           .arg(config_path);
+        cmd
+    };
 
-    // Start validator via `cargo run -- <path to config>`
-    let mut command = process::Command::new("cargo");
-    command.arg("run");
     let rust_log_style =
         std::env::var("RUST_LOG_STYLE").unwrap_or(log_suffix.to_string());
+    
     command
-        .arg("--")
-        .arg(config_path)
         .env("RUST_LOG_STYLE", rust_log_style)
         .env("MBV_VALIDATOR__KEYPAIR", keypair_base58.clone())
         .current_dir(root_dir);