diff --git a/worker/lyra_worker/claim.py b/worker/lyra_worker/claim.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0c2f162
--- /dev/null
+++ b/worker/lyra_worker/claim.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import psycopg
+
+
+def claim_next(conn: psycopg.Connection) -> str | None:
+    """Atomically claim the oldest queued job. Returns its id or None."""
+    with conn.cursor() as cur:
+        cur.execute(
+            """
+            SELECT id FROM "Job"
+            WHERE state = 'requested'
+            ORDER BY "createdAt" ASC
+            FOR UPDATE SKIP LOCKED
+            LIMIT 1
+            """
+        )
+        row = cur.fetchone()
+        if row is None:
+            conn.rollback()
+            return None
+        job_id = row[0]
+        cur.execute(
+            """
+            UPDATE "Job"
+            SET state = 'matching',
+                "currentStage" = 'match',
+                "claimedAt" = now(),
+                attempts = attempts + 1,
+                "updatedAt" = now()
+            WHERE id = %s
+            """,
+            (job_id,),
+        )
+    conn.commit()
+    return job_id
diff --git a/worker/lyra_worker/db.py b/worker/lyra_worker/db.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8c89282
--- /dev/null
+++ b/worker/lyra_worker/db.py
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+import os
+
+import psycopg
+
+
+def connect() -> psycopg.Connection:
+    dsn = os.environ["DATABASE_URL"]
+    return psycopg.connect(dsn)
diff --git a/worker/tests/conftest.py b/worker/tests/conftest.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1b1a662
--- /dev/null
+++ b/worker/tests/conftest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+import os
+
+import psycopg
+import pytest
+
+
+@pytest.fixture()
+def conn():
+    dsn = os.environ["DATABASE_URL"]
+    connection = psycopg.connect(dsn)
+    yield connection
+    # Clean up rows created during the test (Job cascades from Request).
+    with connection.cursor() as cur:
+        cur.execute('DELETE FROM "Job"')
+        cur.execute('DELETE FROM "Request"')
+    connection.commit()
+    connection.close()
+
+
+def insert_request(conn, artist="Artist", album="Album"):
+    """Insert a Request + its Job (state 'requested') and return the job id."""
+    with conn.cursor() as cur:
+        cur.execute(
+            'INSERT INTO "Request" (id, artist, album, status, "createdAt") '
+            "VALUES (gen_random_uuid()::text, %s, %s, 'pending', now()) RETURNING id",
+            (artist, album),
+        )
+        request_id = cur.fetchone()[0]
+        cur.execute(
+            'INSERT INTO "Job" (id, "requestId", state, "currentStage", attempts, "createdAt", "updatedAt") '
+            "VALUES (gen_random_uuid()::text, %s, 'requested', 'intake', 0, now(), now()) RETURNING id",
+            (request_id,),
+        )
+        job_id = cur.fetchone()[0]
+    conn.commit()
+    return job_id
diff --git a/worker/tests/test_claim.py b/worker/tests/test_claim.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4620247
--- /dev/null
+++ b/worker/tests/test_claim.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+from lyra_worker.claim import claim_next
+from tests.conftest import insert_request
+
+
+def test_claim_returns_none_when_empty(conn):
+    assert claim_next(conn) is None
+
+
+def test_claim_advances_job_to_matching(conn):
+    job_id = insert_request(conn)
+    claimed = claim_next(conn)
+    assert claimed == job_id
+
+    with conn.cursor() as cur:
+        cur.execute('SELECT state, "currentStage", attempts, "claimedAt" FROM "Job" WHERE id = %s', (job_id,))
+        state, stage, attempts, claimed_at = cur.fetchone()
+    assert state == "matching"
+    assert stage == "match"
+    assert attempts == 1
+    assert claimed_at is not None
+
+
+def test_claim_does_not_repick_claimed_job(conn):
+    insert_request(conn)
+    assert claim_next(conn) is not None
+    assert claim_next(conn) is None