diff --git a/Build-Engines.ps1 b/Build-Engines.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b3c3fa3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Build-Engines.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+<#
+.SYNOPSIS
+    Builds every plugin engine under Engines/ and deploys it to the benchmark.
+
+.DESCRIPTION
+    OpenNest.Benchmark loads plugin engines from an Engines/ folder next to its own
+    build output. This builds the benchmark plus each Engines/OpenNest.Engine.*/ project
+    (test subprojects are skipped) and copies each engine DLL into that folder.
+
+.EXAMPLE
+    ./Engines/Build-Engines.ps1
+    ./Engines/Build-Engines.ps1 -Engines Opus55,Terra -Configuration Debug
+#>
+param(
+    [string]$Configuration = 'Release',
+    # Engine names without the OpenNest.Engine. prefix; default is all of them.
+    [string[]]$Engines
+)
+
+$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
+$repoRoot = Split-Path $PSScriptRoot -Parent
+
+dotnet build (Join-Path $repoRoot 'OpenNest.Benchmark/OpenNest.Benchmark.csproj') -c $Configuration
+if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw 'OpenNest.Benchmark build failed.' }
+
+$deployDir = Join-Path $repoRoot "OpenNest.Benchmark/bin/$Configuration/net8.0/Engines"
+New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force $deployDir | Out-Null
+
+$projects = Get-ChildItem $PSScriptRoot -Directory -Filter 'OpenNest.Engine.*' |
+    Where-Object { -not $Engines -or $Engines -contains $_.Name.Substring('OpenNest.Engine.'.Length) }
+
+foreach ($dir in $projects) {
+    $csproj = Join-Path $dir.FullName "$($dir.Name).csproj"
+    dotnet build $csproj -c $Configuration
+    if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw "$($dir.Name) build failed." }
+
+    $dll = Join-Path $dir.FullName "bin/$Configuration/net8.0/$($dir.Name).dll"
+    Copy-Item $dll $deployDir -Force
+    Write-Host "Deployed $($dir.Name) -> $deployDir"
+}
diff --git a/Directory.Build.props b/Directory.Build.props
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eb217da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Directory.Build.props
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+<Project>
+  <!--
+    Shared settings for out-of-solution nesting engine plugins. Each engine lives in
+    Engines/OpenNest.Engine.<Name>/ with an optional tests/ subproject; both import this.
+    AssemblyName and RootNamespace default to the project file name.
+  -->
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <TargetFramework>net8.0</TargetFramework>
+    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
+    <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ProjectReference Include="$(MSBuildThisFileDirectory)../OpenNest.Engine/OpenNest.Engine.csproj" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+</Project>
diff --git a/Directory.Build.targets b/Directory.Build.targets
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8c753ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Directory.Build.targets
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+<Project>
+  <!--
+    Each engine's tests/ subproject sits inside the engine folder. This must live in a
+    .targets file: removals in Directory.Build.props run before the SDK adds its default
+    Compile glob, so they would have no effect.
+  -->
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <Compile Remove="tests/**/*.cs" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+</Project>
diff --git a/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55.csproj b/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55.csproj
index b8cab81..c9a747c 100644
--- a/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55.csproj
+++ b/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55.csproj
@@ -1,14 +1,6 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
-  <PropertyGroup>
-    <TargetFramework>net8.0</TargetFramework>
-    <RootNamespace>OpenNest.Engine.Opus55</RootNamespace>
-    <AssemblyName>OpenNest.Engine.Opus55</AssemblyName>
-    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
-    <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
-  </PropertyGroup>
+  <!-- Shared settings and the OpenNest.Engine reference come from Engines/Directory.Build.props. -->
   <ItemGroup>
-    <Compile Remove="tests/**/*.cs" />
     <InternalsVisibleTo Include="OpenNest.Engine.Opus55.Tests" />
-    <ProjectReference Include="../OpenNest.Engine/OpenNest.Engine.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 </Project>
diff --git a/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55/README.md b/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55/README.md
index d648b37..b0f3cdb 100644
--- a/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55/README.md
+++ b/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55/README.md
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ Every placement decision (which part, which rotation, where, on which sheet) com
 ## Build / test
 
 ```bash
-dotnet build OpenNest.Engine.Opus55/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55.csproj -c Release
-dotnet test  OpenNest.Engine.Opus55/tests/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55.Tests.csproj
+dotnet build Engines/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55.csproj -c Release
+dotnet test  Engines/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55/tests/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55.Tests.csproj
 ```
 
 This project is intentionally **outside** `OpenNest.sln`, the same pattern as the
@@ -73,10 +73,12 @@ This project is intentionally **outside** `OpenNest.sln`, the same pattern as th
 ```bash
 dotnet build OpenNest.Benchmark/OpenNest.Benchmark.csproj -c Release
 mkdir -p OpenNest.Benchmark/bin/Release/net8.0/Engines
-cp OpenNest.Engine.Opus55/bin/Release/net8.0/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55.dll OpenNest.Benchmark/bin/Release/net8.0/Engines/
+cp Engines/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55/bin/Release/net8.0/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55.dll OpenNest.Benchmark/bin/Release/net8.0/Engines/
 dotnet OpenNest.Benchmark/bin/Release/net8.0/OpenNest.Benchmark.dll <path-to-.nest-or-manifest-or-folder>
 ```
 
+Or build and deploy in one step with `./Engines/Build-Engines.ps1 -Engines Opus55`.
+
 The engine reports as `Opus55NestingEngine`.
 
 ## Known limitations
diff --git a/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55/tests/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55.Tests.csproj b/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55/tests/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55.Tests.csproj
index c89db0e..74d976a 100644
--- a/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55/tests/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55.Tests.csproj
+++ b/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55/tests/OpenNest.Engine.Opus55.Tests.csproj
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
-    <TargetFramework>net8.0</TargetFramework>
-    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
-    <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
     <IsPackable>false</IsPackable>
     <IsTestProject>true</IsTestProject>
   </PropertyGroup>
@@ -14,8 +11,7 @@
   <ItemGroup>
     <Using Include="Xunit" />
     <ProjectReference Include="../OpenNest.Engine.Opus55.csproj" />
-    <ProjectReference Include="../../OpenNest.Engine/OpenNest.Engine.csproj" />
     <!-- The benchmark's NestValidator is the arbiter the engine is scored by. -->
-    <ProjectReference Include="../../OpenNest.Benchmark/OpenNest.Benchmark.csproj" />
+    <ProjectReference Include="../../../OpenNest.Benchmark/OpenNest.Benchmark.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 </Project>
diff --git a/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen.csproj b/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen.csproj
index bb15a22..1c0be6e 100644
--- a/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen.csproj
+++ b/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen.csproj
@@ -1,13 +1,3 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
-  <PropertyGroup>
-    <TargetFramework>net8.0</TargetFramework>
-    <RootNamespace>OpenNest.Engine.Qwen</RootNamespace>
-    <AssemblyName>OpenNest.Engine.Qwen</AssemblyName>
-    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
-    <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
-  </PropertyGroup>
-  <ItemGroup>
-    <Compile Remove="tests/**/*.cs" />
-    <ProjectReference Include="../OpenNest.Engine/OpenNest.Engine.csproj" />
-  </ItemGroup>
+  <!-- Shared settings and the OpenNest.Engine reference come from Engines/Directory.Build.props. -->
 </Project>
diff --git a/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen/README.md b/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen/README.md
index 9c401d5..c394df1 100644
--- a/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen/README.md
+++ b/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen/README.md
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ engines to start; it must not be the same algorithm re-derived through indirecti
 ## Build
 
 ```bash
-dotnet build OpenNest.Engine.Qwen/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen.csproj
+dotnet build Engines/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen.csproj
 ```
 
 This project is intentionally **outside** `OpenNest.sln` (same pattern as the
@@ -44,14 +44,16 @@ as part of the main solution.
 own build output:
 
 ```bash
-dotnet build OpenNest.Engine.Qwen/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen.csproj -c Release
+dotnet build Engines/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen.csproj -c Release
 dotnet build OpenNest.Benchmark/OpenNest.Benchmark.csproj -c Release
 
 mkdir -p OpenNest.Benchmark/bin/Release/net8.0/Engines
-cp OpenNest.Engine.Qwen/bin/Release/net8.0/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen.dll    OpenNest.Benchmark/bin/Release/net8.0/Engines/
+cp Engines/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen/bin/Release/net8.0/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen.dll    OpenNest.Benchmark/bin/Release/net8.0/Engines/
 
 dotnet OpenNest.Benchmark/bin/Release/net8.0/OpenNest.Benchmark.dll <path-to-.nest-or-folder>
 ```
 
+Or build and deploy in one step with `./Engines/Build-Engines.ps1 -Engines Qwen`.
+
 Your engine will show up in the report under its CLR type name (`QwenNestingEngine`),
 competing on equal footing against the built-in engines.
diff --git a/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen/tests/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen.Tests.csproj b/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen/tests/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen.Tests.csproj
index e3f0be9..1deae75 100644
--- a/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen/tests/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen.Tests.csproj
+++ b/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen/tests/OpenNest.Engine.Qwen.Tests.csproj
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
-    <TargetFramework>net8.0</TargetFramework>
-    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
-    <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
     <IsPackable>false</IsPackable>
     <IsTestProject>true</IsTestProject>
   </PropertyGroup>
@@ -14,6 +11,5 @@
   <ItemGroup>
     <Using Include="Xunit" />
     <ProjectReference Include="../OpenNest.Engine.Qwen.csproj" />
-    <ProjectReference Include="../../OpenNest.Engine/OpenNest.Engine.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 </Project>
diff --git a/OpenNest.Engine.Terra/OpenNest.Engine.Terra.csproj b/OpenNest.Engine.Terra/OpenNest.Engine.Terra.csproj
index 0f958a2..1c0be6e 100644
--- a/OpenNest.Engine.Terra/OpenNest.Engine.Terra.csproj
+++ b/OpenNest.Engine.Terra/OpenNest.Engine.Terra.csproj
@@ -1,13 +1,3 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
-  <PropertyGroup>
-    <TargetFramework>net8.0</TargetFramework>
-    <RootNamespace>OpenNest.Engine.Terra</RootNamespace>
-    <AssemblyName>OpenNest.Engine.Terra</AssemblyName>
-    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
-    <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
-  </PropertyGroup>
-  <ItemGroup>
-    <Compile Remove="tests/**/*.cs" />
-    <ProjectReference Include="../OpenNest.Engine/OpenNest.Engine.csproj" />
-  </ItemGroup>
+  <!-- Shared settings and the OpenNest.Engine reference come from Engines/Directory.Build.props. -->
 </Project>
diff --git a/OpenNest.Engine.Terra/README.md b/OpenNest.Engine.Terra/README.md
index b8551ab..2911596 100644
--- a/OpenNest.Engine.Terra/README.md
+++ b/OpenNest.Engine.Terra/README.md
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ engines to start; it must not be the same algorithm re-derived through indirecti
 ## Build
 
 ```bash
-dotnet build OpenNest.Engine.Terra/OpenNest.Engine.Terra.csproj
+dotnet build Engines/OpenNest.Engine.Terra/OpenNest.Engine.Terra.csproj
 ```
 
 This project is intentionally **outside** `OpenNest.sln` (same pattern as the
@@ -44,14 +44,16 @@ as part of the main solution.
 own build output:
 
 ```bash
-dotnet build OpenNest.Engine.Terra/OpenNest.Engine.Terra.csproj -c Release
+dotnet build Engines/OpenNest.Engine.Terra/OpenNest.Engine.Terra.csproj -c Release
 dotnet build OpenNest.Benchmark/OpenNest.Benchmark.csproj -c Release
 
 mkdir -p OpenNest.Benchmark/bin/Release/net8.0/Engines
-cp OpenNest.Engine.Terra/bin/Release/net8.0/OpenNest.Engine.Terra.dll    OpenNest.Benchmark/bin/Release/net8.0/Engines/
+cp Engines/OpenNest.Engine.Terra/bin/Release/net8.0/OpenNest.Engine.Terra.dll    OpenNest.Benchmark/bin/Release/net8.0/Engines/
 
 dotnet OpenNest.Benchmark/bin/Release/net8.0/OpenNest.Benchmark.dll <path-to-.nest-or-folder>
 ```
 
+Or build and deploy in one step with `./Engines/Build-Engines.ps1 -Engines Terra`.
+
 Your engine will show up in the report under its CLR type name (`TerraNestingEngine`),
 competing on equal footing against the built-in engines.
diff --git a/OpenNest.Engine.Terra/tests/OpenNest.Engine.Terra.Tests.csproj b/OpenNest.Engine.Terra/tests/OpenNest.Engine.Terra.Tests.csproj
index 6f9ab72..c9776ea 100644
--- a/OpenNest.Engine.Terra/tests/OpenNest.Engine.Terra.Tests.csproj
+++ b/OpenNest.Engine.Terra/tests/OpenNest.Engine.Terra.Tests.csproj
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
-    <TargetFramework>net8.0</TargetFramework>
-    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
-    <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
     <IsPackable>false</IsPackable>
     <IsTestProject>true</IsTestProject>
   </PropertyGroup>
@@ -14,6 +11,5 @@
   <ItemGroup>
     <Using Include="Xunit" />
     <ProjectReference Include="../OpenNest.Engine.Terra.csproj" />
-    <ProjectReference Include="../../OpenNest.Engine/OpenNest.Engine.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 </Project>