diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 7832f70f8e..3272a1c3c8 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ Ensure all pre-commit hooks pass by running `uv run pre-commit run -a`. A clean
 - **uv version pin:** Root `pyproject.toml` requires `uv>=0.9.14,<0.10.0`. Newer uv releases (e.g. 0.11.x) fail `uv sync` with a version mismatch. Install the pinned range before bootstrapping: `pip install 'uv>=0.9.14,<0.10.0'`.
 - **Native build deps:** `make bootstrap-python` builds `annoy` (via `nemoguardrails`). Install system headers once per VM image: `sudo apt-get install -y python3-dev build-essential`.
 - **Python bootstrap:** Run `make bootstrap-python` from repo root (creates `.venv`, runs `uv sync --frozen --all-packages`). See [SETUP.md](SETUP.md) for the full playbook.
-- **Studio (optional):** `make bootstrap-studio` requires Node **22.23.x** and pnpm per `web/package.json` engines. The VM may ship an older Node (e.g. 22.14); API services still run without Studio assets. Upgrade Node then run `make bootstrap-studio` if you need `http://localhost:8080/studio/`.
+- **Studio (optional):** `make bootstrap-studio` installs mise and resolves the Node.js/pnpm versions pinned in `mise.toml`, so a VM shipping an older Node doesn't need upgrading. API services still run without Studio assets. Pass `NMP_SKIP_MISE=1` to bootstrap against the toolchain already on PATH.
 
 ### Running the platform
 
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index e8433caea3..4821cac8d9 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@ stainless: ## Run Stainless to generate the OpenAPI spec and sync it with the SD
 	SDK_RELEASE_TIER=ga ./sdk/stainless.sh sync
 
 .PHONY: update-web-sdk
-update-web-sdk: ## Regenerate the TypeScript web SDK (web/packages/sdk) from the OpenAPI spec via Orval
-	cd web && pnpm gen
+update-web-sdk: verify-mise ## Regenerate the TypeScript web SDK (web/packages/sdk) from the OpenAPI spec via Orval
+	cd web && $(MISE_EXEC) pnpm gen
 
 .PHONY: update-sdk
 update-sdk: build-policy refresh-openapi stainless update-web-sdk update-cli ## Update the SDK by regenerating the OpenAPI spec and syncing it with Stainless
@@ -195,18 +195,55 @@ bootstrap-python: ## Bootstrap Python dependencies.
 		$(BOOTSTRAP_ACTIVATION_REMINDER); \
 	fi
 
+# Set NMP_SKIP_MISE=1 to bootstrap against the node/pnpm already on PATH
+# instead of the mise-managed ones (offline installs, nix shells, distro
+# toolchains). web/package.json engines are still enforced either way.
+NMP_SKIP_MISE ?=
+MISE_VERSION ?= v2026.5.7
+MISE := $(shell command -v mise 2>/dev/null || echo $(HOME)/.local/bin/mise)
+MISE_EXEC := $(if $(NMP_SKIP_MISE),,"$(MISE)" exec --)
+
+.PHONY: verify-mise
+verify-mise: ## Install mise (if missing) and run `mise install` from mise.toml
+	@if [ -n "$(NMP_SKIP_MISE)" ]; then \
+		echo "NMP_SKIP_MISE set, using node/pnpm from PATH"; \
+		exit 0; \
+	fi; \
+	if [ ! -x "$(MISE)" ] && ! command -v mise >/dev/null 2>&1; then \
+		curl -fsSL https://mise.run | MISE_VERSION=$(MISE_VERSION) sh; \
+	fi; \
+	if [ ! -x "$(MISE)" ] && ! command -v mise >/dev/null 2>&1; then \
+		echo "mise not on PATH. Add $$HOME/.local/bin to PATH and re-run,"; \
+		echo "or re-run with NMP_SKIP_MISE=1 to use your own node/pnpm."; \
+		exit 1; \
+	fi; \
+	"$(MISE)" install --yes
+
+.PHONY: verify-pnpm
+verify-pnpm: verify-mise ## Verify pnpm is available for Studio bootstrap
+	@$(MISE_EXEC) pnpm --version || { \
+		echo "pnpm not found."; \
+		if [ -n "$(NMP_SKIP_MISE)" ]; then \
+			echo "NMP_SKIP_MISE is set, so pnpm has to come from your PATH."; \
+			echo "Install pnpm, or re-run without NMP_SKIP_MISE to use the mise-managed one."; \
+		else \
+			echo "Run 'make verify-mise' to install the pinned toolchain."; \
+		fi; \
+		exit 1; \
+	}
+
 .PHONY: verify-node-version
-verify-node-version: ## Verify pnpm and Node.js satisfy Studio's package engine
+verify-node-version: verify-pnpm ## Verify pnpm and Node.js satisfy Studio's package engine
 	@echo "~~~~~~"
 	@echo "verifying Node.js version from web/package.json engines"
-	@script/verify-node-version.sh
+	@$(MISE_EXEC) script/verify-node-version.sh
 
 .PHONY: bootstrap-studio
 bootstrap-studio: verify-node-version ## Install web dependencies and build Studio assets for FastAPI
 	@echo "~~~~~~"
 	@echo "installing Studio web dependencies and building FastAPI assets"
-	cd web && CI=true pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
-	cd web && pnpm --filter nemo-studio-ui build:fastapi
+	cd web && CI=true $(MISE_EXEC) pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
+	cd web && $(MISE_EXEC) pnpm --filter nemo-studio-ui build:fastapi
 
 .PHONY: bootstrap-plugins
 bootstrap-plugins: .venv ## Install editable plugin packages not covered by the root uv workspace
@@ -232,8 +269,7 @@ bootstrap: bootstrap-python ## Bootstrap the local dev environment, including St
 		echo ""; \
 		echo "warning: optional Studio asset bootstrap did not complete."; \
 		echo "Studio will be unavailable at http://localhost:8080/studio/ until assets are built."; \
-		echo "Install Node.js matching web/package.json with pnpm, then rerun:"; \
-		echo "  pnpm env use --global 22.23.2"; \
+		echo "Check the output above, then rerun:"; \
 		echo "  make bootstrap-studio"; \
 	fi
 	@echo "bootstrap completed"
diff --git a/SETUP.md b/SETUP.md
index aa6dd27107..6b728dc041 100644
--- a/SETUP.md
+++ b/SETUP.md
@@ -95,6 +95,31 @@ nemo setup --auto --start-services --install-skills --deploy-agent
 
 `make clean` removes the venv; `make clean-python` is the venv-only variant.
 
+### Node.js and pnpm
+
+`mise.toml` pins the Node.js and pnpm versions that satisfy `web/package.json` engines, and `make bootstrap-studio` installs mise on first run and invokes both through `mise exec --`. Nothing is written to your shell rc.
+
+That covers the `make` targets only. To run `pnpm` directly in `web/` — the Studio dev server, tests, lint — you need mise on your PATH first, since it installs to `~/.local/bin`:
+
+```bash
+export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
+```
+
+Then either prefix commands:
+
+```bash
+mise exec -- pnpm dev
+```
+
+or activate mise once so every shell picks up the pinned versions:
+
+```bash
+eval "$(mise activate bash)"   # ~/.bashrc
+eval "$(mise activate zsh)"    # ~/.zshrc
+```
+
+Without one of those, a system or nvm-managed Node.js takes precedence and may not satisfy `engines`. To bootstrap against your own toolchain instead of mise, use `make bootstrap-studio NMP_SKIP_MISE=1`.
+
 If `nemo setup` is too high-level for the task (e.g. debugging startup, custom service set, custom plugin install after bootstrap), use the manual sections below.
 
 ### Default model selection (under `--auto`)
diff --git a/mise.toml b/mise.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..724c599309
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mise.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+[tools]
+node = "22.23.2"
+pnpm = "10.34"
diff --git a/script/verify-node-version.sh b/script/verify-node-version.sh
index 21d074a8a4..e293e066b3 100755
--- a/script/verify-node-version.sh
+++ b/script/verify-node-version.sh
@@ -5,25 +5,20 @@ SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
 REPO_ROOT="$(cd "$SCRIPT_DIR/.." && pwd)"
 WEB_DIR="$REPO_ROOT/web"
 
-# --- pnpm availability ---
-
-if ! command -v pnpm >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-  if command -v corepack >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    corepack enable pnpm
-  else
-    echo "pnpm is required for Studio bootstrap."
-    echo "Install pnpm and put it first on PATH."
+# --- Toolchain availability ---
+
+for tool in node pnpm; do
+  if ! command -v "$tool" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "$tool is not on PATH."
+    if [ -n "${NMP_SKIP_MISE:-}" ]; then
+      echo "NMP_SKIP_MISE is set, so $tool has to come from your PATH."
+      echo "Install it, or re-run without NMP_SKIP_MISE to use the mise-managed one."
+    else
+      echo "Run 'make verify-mise' to install the pinned toolchain."
+    fi
     exit 1
   fi
-fi
-
-# --- Node.js availability ---
-
-if ! command -v node >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-  echo "Node.js is required for Studio bootstrap."
-  echo "Install a matching local Node.js and put it first on PATH."
-  exit 1
-fi
+done
 
 # --- Engine compatibility check ---
 
diff --git a/web/AGENTS.md b/web/AGENTS.md
index dc64049144..11b8c4ca09 100644
--- a/web/AGENTS.md
+++ b/web/AGENTS.md
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ Cursor/Claude skills for this monorepo live under **`web/.agents/skills/`** (for
 
 - Use **pnpm** exclusively — never npm or yarn
 - Run frontend commands from `web/`, not from repo root
+- Node.js and pnpm come from mise (`mise.toml` at the repo root). Run `make verify-mise` from the repo root to install the pinned versions; mise lands in `~/.local/bin`, so use `~/.local/bin/mise exec -- <cmd>` if that directory isn't on PATH and mise isn't activated in the shell
 - Install dependencies: `pnpm add <package>`
 - Run scripts: `pnpm <script-name>`
 
diff --git a/web/README.md b/web/README.md
index 8d48fdb4d2..dc54d2336c 100644
--- a/web/README.md
+++ b/web/README.md
@@ -4,11 +4,26 @@ NeMo Studio is a UI built on the NeMo Platform, which is aimed at improving agen
 
 ## Getting Started
 
-1. Install the latest [Node.js 22](https://nodejs.org/en/download) (LTS).
-2. Install pnpm, install workspace deps, and copy `.env` files:
+1. Get Node.js and pnpm satisfying the `engines` in `package.json` onto your PATH. Either let [mise](https://mise.jdx.dev/) manage them from the versions pinned in `mise.toml` at the repo root:
+
+   ```bash
+   make verify-mise   # from the repo root, installs mise + the pinned versions
+   ```
+
+   mise installs to `~/.local/bin`, so make sure that's on your PATH, then add the matching line for your shell to its startup file:
+
+   ```bash
+   export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
+
+   eval "$(mise activate bash)"   # ~/.bashrc
+   eval "$(mise activate zsh)"    # ~/.zshrc
+   ```
+
+   or install Node.js and pnpm yourself. `make bootstrap-studio` and the other `make` targets use the mise-managed versions by default, whatever you pick here — pass `NMP_SKIP_MISE=1` to make them use your PATH instead.
+
+2. Install workspace deps and copy `.env` files, from `web/`:
 
    ```bash
-   npm install -g pnpm
    pnpm install
    cp packages/studio/env/.env.dev.local.sample packages/studio/env/.env.dev.local && \
      cp packages/studio/env/.env.e2e packages/studio/env/.env.e2e.local
@@ -16,7 +31,7 @@ NeMo Studio is a UI built on the NeMo Platform, which is aimed at improving agen
 
 ## Running Studio Locally
 
-Run the following script from the root of the repo:
+Run the following script from `web/`:
 
 ```bash
 pnpm dev