diff --git a/OpenNest.Data/EngineSelectionSettings.cs b/OpenNest.Data/EngineSelectionSettings.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6d7bd42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/OpenNest.Data/EngineSelectionSettings.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+using System.Text.Json;
+
+namespace OpenNest.Data;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Last-used Auto Nest engine, stored separately from nest/plate defaults.
+/// Loading does not resolve the name: the host must finish plug-in discovery first.
+/// </summary>
+public sealed class EngineSelectionSettings
+{
+    public const string DefaultEngineName = "Default";
+
+    private static readonly JsonSerializerOptions JsonOptions = new()
+    {
+        WriteIndented = true,
+        PropertyNamingPolicy = JsonNamingPolicy.CamelCase,
+        PropertyNameCaseInsensitive = true,
+    };
+
+    public string EngineName { get; set; } = DefaultEngineName;
+
+    /// <summary>%APPDATA%\OpenNest\engine-selection.json.</summary>
+    public static string DefaultPath => Path.Combine(
+        Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData),
+        "OpenNest", "engine-selection.json");
+
+    /// <summary>Missing, unreadable or corrupt settings safely use Default without writing.</summary>
+    public static EngineSelectionSettings Load(string path)
+    {
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(path) || !File.Exists(path))
+            return new();
+
+        try
+        {
+            var settings = JsonSerializer.Deserialize<EngineSelectionSettings>(
+                File.ReadAllText(path), JsonOptions) ?? new();
+            settings.EngineName = NormalizeName(settings.EngineName);
+            return settings;
+        }
+        catch (Exception ex) when (ex is JsonException or IOException or UnauthorizedAccessException)
+        {
+            return new();
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Resolves against the host's selectable engines AFTER plug-in loading. A missing engine
+    /// returns Default plus a status-bar warning, without replacing the saved preference.
+    /// Names use registry casing so desktop combo-box selection remains exact.
+    /// </summary>
+    public string Resolve(IEnumerable<string> availableEngineNames, out string? statusMessage)
+    {
+        ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(availableEngineNames);
+        var requestedName = NormalizeName(EngineName);
+        var registeredName = availableEngineNames.FirstOrDefault(
+            name => string.Equals(name, requestedName, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase));
+        if (registeredName is not null)
+        {
+            statusMessage = null;
+            return registeredName;
+        }
+
+        statusMessage = $"Saved Auto Nest engine '{requestedName}' is unavailable. Using Default.";
+        return DefaultEngineName;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Writes camelCase JSON, creating the parent directory and retrying IO collisions as
+    /// LocalJsonProvider does. The host handles a persistent write failure.
+    /// </summary>
+    public void Save(string path)
+    {
+        var json = JsonSerializer.Serialize(
+            new EngineSelectionSettings { EngineName = NormalizeName(EngineName) }, JsonOptions);
+        var directory = Path.GetDirectoryName(Path.GetFullPath(path));
+
+        for (var attempt = 0; attempt < 3; attempt++)
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(directory))
+                    Directory.CreateDirectory(directory);
+                File.WriteAllText(path, json);
+                return;
+            }
+            catch (IOException) when (attempt < 2)
+            {
+                Thread.Sleep(100);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static string NormalizeName(string? name) =>
+        string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(name) ? DefaultEngineName : name.Trim();
+}
diff --git a/OpenNest.Tests/Data/EngineSelectionSettingsTests.cs b/OpenNest.Tests/Data/EngineSelectionSettingsTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7457510
--- /dev/null
+++ b/OpenNest.Tests/Data/EngineSelectionSettingsTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+using System.Text.Json;
+using OpenNest.Data;
+
+namespace OpenNest.Tests.Data;
+
+public class EngineSelectionSettingsTests : IDisposable
+{
+    private readonly string _directory = Path.Combine(
+        Path.GetTempPath(), "OpenNestTests", Guid.NewGuid().ToString());
+    private readonly string _path;
+
+    public EngineSelectionSettingsTests()
+    {
+        Directory.CreateDirectory(_directory);
+        _path = Path.Combine(_directory, "engine-selection.json");
+    }
+
+    public void Dispose() => Directory.Delete(_directory, recursive: true);
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void DefaultPath_UsesApplicationDataOpenNestDirectory()
+    {
+        Assert.Equal(
+            Path.Combine(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData),
+                "OpenNest", "engine-selection.json"),
+            EngineSelectionSettings.DefaultPath);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void SaveThenLoad_RoundTripsPluginNameAsCamelCaseJson()
+    {
+        new EngineSelectionSettings { EngineName = "Opus55NestingEngine" }.Save(_path);
+
+        var loaded = EngineSelectionSettings.Load(_path);
+        using var json = JsonDocument.Parse(File.ReadAllText(_path));
+
+        Assert.Equal("Opus55NestingEngine", loaded.EngineName);
+        Assert.Equal("Opus55NestingEngine", json.RootElement.GetProperty("engineName").GetString());
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Save_OverwritesPreviousSelection()
+    {
+        new EngineSelectionSettings { EngineName = "Opus55NestingEngine" }.Save(_path);
+        new EngineSelectionSettings { EngineName = "Strip" }.Save(_path);
+
+        Assert.Equal("Strip", EngineSelectionSettings.Load(_path).EngineName);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Save_CreatesMissingParentDirectory()
+    {
+        var path = Path.Combine(_directory, "nested", "engine-selection.json");
+
+        new EngineSelectionSettings { EngineName = "Strip" }.Save(path);
+
+        Assert.Equal("Strip", EngineSelectionSettings.Load(path).EngineName);
+    }
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData(null)]
+    [InlineData("")]
+    [InlineData("  ")]
+    public void Save_EmptySelectionWritesDefault(string? engineName)
+    {
+        new EngineSelectionSettings { EngineName = engineName! }.Save(_path);
+
+        using var json = JsonDocument.Parse(File.ReadAllText(_path));
+        Assert.Equal("Default", json.RootElement.GetProperty("engineName").GetString());
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Load_MissingFileReturnsDefaultWithoutCreatingFile()
+    {
+        var loaded = EngineSelectionSettings.Load(_path);
+
+        Assert.Equal("Default", loaded.EngineName);
+        Assert.False(File.Exists(_path));
+        Assert.Equal("Default", loaded.Resolve(new[] { "Default" }, out var message));
+        Assert.Null(message);
+    }
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData("{ broken json")]
+    [InlineData("null")]
+    [InlineData("[]")]
+    [InlineData("{}")]
+    [InlineData("{\"engineName\":null}")]
+    [InlineData("{\"engineName\":\" \"}")]
+    [InlineData("{\"engineName\":42}")]
+    public void Load_CorruptOrEmptySettingsReturnsDefault(string json)
+    {
+        File.WriteAllText(_path, json);
+
+        Assert.Equal("Default", EngineSelectionSettings.Load(_path).EngineName);
+        Assert.Equal(json, File.ReadAllText(_path));
+    }
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData(null)]
+    [InlineData("")]
+    [InlineData("\0")]
+    public void Load_InvalidPathReturnsDefault(string? path)
+    {
+        Assert.Equal("Default", EngineSelectionSettings.Load(path!).EngineName);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Load_UnreadablePathReturnsDefault()
+    {
+        Directory.CreateDirectory(_path);
+
+        Assert.Equal("Default", EngineSelectionSettings.Load(_path).EngineName);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Load_IgnoresUnknownFieldsAndTrimsSelection()
+    {
+        File.WriteAllText(_path,
+            """{"EngineName":"  Opus55NestingEngine  ","futureSetting":true}""");
+
+        Assert.Equal("Opus55NestingEngine", EngineSelectionSettings.Load(_path).EngineName);
+    }
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData("Default")]
+    [InlineData("Strip")]
+    [InlineData("Vertical Remnant")]
+    [InlineData("Horizontal Remnant")]
+    [InlineData("Opus55NestingEngine")]
+    public void Resolve_AvailableSelectionUsesRegisteredCasingWithoutWarning(string engineName)
+    {
+        var settings = new EngineSelectionSettings { EngineName = engineName.ToLowerInvariant() };
+
+        var resolved = settings.Resolve(new[] { "Default", engineName }, out var message);
+
+        Assert.Equal(engineName, resolved);
+        Assert.Null(message);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Resolve_MissingPluginFallsBackWithVisibleMessageWithoutOverwritingSavedChoice()
+    {
+        new EngineSelectionSettings { EngineName = "Opus55NestingEngine" }.Save(_path);
+        var settings = EngineSelectionSettings.Load(_path);
+
+        var resolved = settings.Resolve(new[] { "Default", "Strip" }, out var message);
+
+        Assert.Equal("Default", resolved);
+        Assert.Equal("Saved Auto Nest engine 'Opus55NestingEngine' is unavailable. Using Default.", message);
+        Assert.Equal("Opus55NestingEngine", settings.EngineName);
+        Assert.Equal("Opus55NestingEngine", EngineSelectionSettings.Load(_path).EngineName);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Load_DoesNotResolveBeforePluginDiscovery()
+    {
+        new EngineSelectionSettings { EngineName = "Opus55NestingEngine" }.Save(_path);
+        var settings = EngineSelectionSettings.Load(_path);
+        var availableEngines = new List<string> { "Default" };
+
+        // The host loads settings independently, then supplies the completed registry.
+        availableEngines.Add("Opus55NestingEngine");
+        var resolved = settings.Resolve(availableEngines, out var message);
+
+        Assert.Equal("Opus55NestingEngine", resolved);
+        Assert.Null(message);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Save_UnwritablePathReportsFailureToCaller()
+    {
+        File.WriteAllText(_path, "not a directory");
+        var path = Path.Combine(_path, "engine-selection.json");
+
+        Assert.Throws<IOException>(() => new EngineSelectionSettings().Save(path));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/OpenNest/Forms/EngineSelection.cs b/OpenNest/Forms/EngineSelection.cs
index 04a1c50..0062bcf 100644
--- a/OpenNest/Forms/EngineSelection.cs
+++ b/OpenNest/Forms/EngineSelection.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Diagnostics;
+using System.IO;
 using System.Linq;
+using OpenNest.Data;
 using OpenNest.Engine.Jobs;
 using OpenNest.Engine.Jobs.Placement;
 
@@ -14,13 +17,14 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
     /// </summary>
     public static class EngineSelection
     {
-        public const string DefaultEngineName = "Default";
+        public const string DefaultEngineName = EngineSelectionSettings.DefaultEngineName;
 
         /// <summary>Registered jobs engine deliberately kept out of the desktop combo.</summary>
         public const string HiddenEngineName = "StockLadder";
 
         private static string engineName = DefaultEngineName;
 
+        /// <summary>Current selection. User changes are persisted for the next launch.</summary>
         public static string EngineName
         {
             get { return engineName; }
@@ -29,9 +33,32 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
                 engineName = string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(value)
                     ? DefaultEngineName
                     : value.Trim();
+
+                try
+                {
+                    new EngineSelectionSettings { EngineName = engineName }
+                        .Save(EngineSelectionSettings.DefaultPath);
+                }
+                catch (Exception ex) when (ex is IOException or UnauthorizedAccessException)
+                {
+                    // A read-only profile must not prevent selecting an engine for this session.
+                    Debug.WriteLine($"[EngineSelection] Could not save engine selection: {ex.Message}");
+                }
             }
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Call after NestingEngineRegistry.LoadPlugins and before populating the desktop combo.
+        /// Returns a status-bar warning when the saved engine is unavailable, otherwise empty.
+        /// Loading never saves the fallback over a temporarily missing plug-in preference.
+        /// </summary>
+        public static string LoadSavedSelection()
+        {
+            var settings = EngineSelectionSettings.Load(EngineSelectionSettings.DefaultPath);
+            engineName = settings.Resolve(UiEngineNames, out var statusMessage);
+            return statusMessage ?? string.Empty;
+        }
+
         /// <summary>Desktop combo contents: registered jobs engines minus StockLadder.</summary>
         public static IEnumerable<string> UiEngineNames =>
             NestingEngineRegistry.AvailableEngines
diff --git a/OpenNest/Forms/MainForm.cs b/OpenNest/Forms/MainForm.cs
index b34d66e..2a43ede 100644
--- a/OpenNest/Forms/MainForm.cs
+++ b/OpenNest/Forms/MainForm.cs
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ namespace OpenNest.Forms
             // contract and expose a public parameterless constructor.
             var enginesDir = Path.Combine(Application.StartupPath, "Engines");
             NestingEngineRegistry.LoadPlugins(enginesDir);
+            var engineWarning = EngineSelection.LoadSavedSelection();
+            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(engineWarning))
+                Shown += (_, _) => statusLabel1.Text = engineWarning;
 
             OptionsForm.ApplyDisabledStrategies();
             ColorSchemeRegistry.ApplyActiveFromSettings();