diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 19ded68..22d601e 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -789,6 +789,20 @@ target_link_libraries(json_config_schema_validation_test PRIVATE
 )
 add_test(NAME json_config_schema_validation_test COMMAND json_config_schema_validation_test)
 
+# Test: Workflow definition parser
+add_executable(workflow_definition_parser_test
+    tests/workflow_definition_parser_test.cpp
+    src/services/impl/workflow_definition_parser.cpp
+    src/services/impl/json_config_document_parser.cpp
+)
+target_include_directories(workflow_definition_parser_test PRIVATE "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/src")
+target_link_libraries(workflow_definition_parser_test PRIVATE
+    GTest::gtest
+    GTest::gtest_main
+    rapidjson
+)
+add_test(NAME workflow_definition_parser_test COMMAND workflow_definition_parser_test)
+
 # Test: Config compiler reference validation
 add_executable(config_compiler_reference_validation_test
     tests/config_compiler_reference_validation_test.cpp
diff --git a/ROADMAP.md b/ROADMAP.md
index 8e2eee7..0fd73b9 100644
--- a/ROADMAP.md
+++ b/ROADMAP.md
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ Option B: per-shader only
 - [~] Budget enforcement tests (GUI cache pruning + texture tracker covered; transient pool pending)
 - [~] Config-driven validation tour (checkpoint captures + image/ratio/luma/sample-point checks)
 - [ ] Smoke test: cube demo boots with config-first scene definition
-- [ ] Workflow parser tests (template loading + invalid step diagnostics)
+- [x] Workflow parser tests (template loading + invalid step diagnostics)
 
 ## Test Strategy (Solid Coverage Plan)
 ### Goals
diff --git a/tests/workflow_definition_parser_test.cpp b/tests/workflow_definition_parser_test.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..855348f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/workflow_definition_parser_test.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+#include <gtest/gtest.h>
+
+#include "services/impl/workflow_definition_parser.hpp"
+
+#include <chrono>
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <fstream>
+#include <string>
+
+namespace {
+
+struct TempFile {
+    explicit TempFile(const std::string& contents) {
+        const auto timestamp = std::chrono::steady_clock::now().time_since_epoch().count();
+        path = std::filesystem::temp_directory_path() /
+               ("workflow_definition_parser_" + std::to_string(timestamp) + ".json");
+        std::ofstream stream(path);
+        stream << contents;
+    }
+
+    ~TempFile() {
+        std::error_code error;
+        std::filesystem::remove(path, error);
+    }
+
+    std::filesystem::path path;
+};
+
+}  // namespace
+
+TEST(WorkflowDefinitionParserTest, ParsesTemplateAndSteps) {
+    const std::string json = R"json({
+  "template": "boot.default",
+  "steps": [
+    {
+      "id": "load_config",
+      "plugin": "config.load",
+      "inputs": { "path": "config.path" },
+      "outputs": { "document": "config.document" }
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "validate_schema",
+      "plugin": "config.schema.validate",
+      "inputs": { "document": "config.document", "path": "config.path" }
+    }
+  ]
+})json";
+
+    TempFile file(json);
+    sdl3cpp::services::impl::WorkflowDefinitionParser parser;
+    const auto workflow = parser.ParseFile(file.path);
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(workflow.templateName, "boot.default");
+    ASSERT_EQ(workflow.steps.size(), 2u);
+    EXPECT_EQ(workflow.steps[0].id, "load_config");
+    EXPECT_EQ(workflow.steps[0].plugin, "config.load");
+    EXPECT_EQ(workflow.steps[0].inputs.at("path"), "config.path");
+    EXPECT_EQ(workflow.steps[0].outputs.at("document"), "config.document");
+    EXPECT_EQ(workflow.steps[1].id, "validate_schema");
+    EXPECT_EQ(workflow.steps[1].plugin, "config.schema.validate");
+}
+
+TEST(WorkflowDefinitionParserTest, FailsWhenPluginIsMissing) {
+    const std::string json = R"json({
+  "template": "boot.invalid",
+  "steps": [
+    {
+      "id": "load_config"
+    }
+  ]
+})json";
+
+    TempFile file(json);
+    sdl3cpp::services::impl::WorkflowDefinitionParser parser;
+    try {
+        parser.ParseFile(file.path);
+        FAIL() << "Expected workflow parser to reject missing plugin";
+    } catch (const std::runtime_error& error) {
+        const std::string message = error.what();
+        EXPECT_NE(message.find("plugin"), std::string::npos);
+    }
+}