diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 3001ef544..eb34e9d72 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -600,9 +600,7 @@ write-manifest:
 
 train-validate-rl:
   extends: .train-rl-base
-  needs:
-    - job: compile-training
-      optional: true
+  needs: []  # Binaries fetched from S3, no compile dependency
   script:
     - |
       /usr/local/bin/train_baseline_rl \
@@ -632,9 +630,7 @@ train-validate-rl:
 
 train-validate-tft:
   extends: .train-validate-base
-  needs:
-    - job: compile-training
-      optional: true
+  needs: []  # Binaries fetched from S3, no compile dependency
   script:
     - /usr/local/bin/train_baseline_supervised
         --model tft
@@ -659,9 +655,7 @@ train-validate-tft:
 
 hyperopt-ppo:
   extends: .train-rl-base
-  needs:
-    - job: compile-training
-      optional: true
+  needs: []  # Binaries fetched from S3, no compile dependency
   timeout: 4h
   script:
     - /usr/local/bin/hyperopt_baseline_rl
@@ -706,9 +700,7 @@ hyperopt-ppo:
 
 train-validate-mamba2:
   extends: .train-validate-base
-  needs:
-    - job: compile-training
-      optional: true
+  needs: []  # Binaries fetched from S3, no compile dependency
   script:
     - /usr/local/bin/train_baseline_supervised
         --model mamba2
@@ -733,9 +725,7 @@ train-validate-mamba2:
 
 train-validate-liquid:
   extends: .train-validate-base
-  needs:
-    - job: compile-training
-      optional: true
+  needs: []  # Binaries fetched from S3, no compile dependency
   script:
     - /usr/local/bin/train_baseline_supervised
         --model liquid
@@ -760,9 +750,7 @@ train-validate-liquid:
 
 train-validate-tggn:
   extends: .train-validate-base
-  needs:
-    - job: compile-training
-      optional: true
+  needs: []  # Binaries fetched from S3, no compile dependency
   script:
     - /usr/local/bin/train_baseline_supervised
         --model tggn
@@ -787,9 +775,7 @@ train-validate-tggn:
 
 train-validate-tlob:
   extends: .train-validate-base
-  needs:
-    - job: compile-training
-      optional: true
+  needs: []  # Binaries fetched from S3, no compile dependency
   script:
     - /usr/local/bin/train_baseline_supervised
         --model tlob
@@ -814,9 +800,7 @@ train-validate-tlob:
 
 train-validate-kan:
   extends: .train-validate-base
-  needs:
-    - job: compile-training
-      optional: true
+  needs: []  # Binaries fetched from S3, no compile dependency
   script:
     - /usr/local/bin/train_baseline_supervised
         --model kan
@@ -841,9 +825,7 @@ train-validate-kan:
 
 train-validate-xlstm:
   extends: .train-validate-base
-  needs:
-    - job: compile-training
-      optional: true
+  needs: []  # Binaries fetched from S3, no compile dependency
   script:
     - /usr/local/bin/train_baseline_supervised
         --model xlstm
@@ -868,9 +850,7 @@ train-validate-xlstm:
 
 train-validate-diffusion:
   extends: .train-validate-base
-  needs:
-    - job: compile-training
-      optional: true
+  needs: []  # Binaries fetched from S3, no compile dependency
   script:
     - /usr/local/bin/train_baseline_supervised
         --model diffusion
@@ -897,9 +877,7 @@ train-validate-diffusion:
 
 hyperopt-dqn:
   extends: .train-rl-base
-  needs:
-    - job: compile-training
-      optional: true
+  needs: []  # Binaries fetched from S3, no compile dependency
   timeout: 4h
   script:
     - |
@@ -949,9 +927,7 @@ hyperopt-dqn:
 
 hyperopt-tft:
   extends: .train-validate-base
-  needs:
-    - job: compile-training
-      optional: true
+  needs: []  # Binaries fetched from S3, no compile dependency
   timeout: 4h
   script:
     - /usr/local/bin/hyperopt_baseline_supervised
@@ -988,9 +964,7 @@ hyperopt-tft:
 
 hyperopt-mamba2:
   extends: .train-validate-base
-  needs:
-    - job: compile-training
-      optional: true
+  needs: []  # Binaries fetched from S3, no compile dependency
   timeout: 4h
   script:
     - /usr/local/bin/hyperopt_baseline_supervised
@@ -1027,9 +1001,7 @@ hyperopt-mamba2:
 
 hyperopt-liquid:
   extends: .train-validate-base
-  needs:
-    - job: compile-training
-      optional: true
+  needs: []  # Binaries fetched from S3, no compile dependency
   timeout: 4h
   script:
     - /usr/local/bin/hyperopt_baseline_supervised
@@ -1066,9 +1038,7 @@ hyperopt-liquid:
 
 hyperopt-tggn:
   extends: .train-validate-base
-  needs:
-    - job: compile-training
-      optional: true
+  needs: []  # Binaries fetched from S3, no compile dependency
   timeout: 4h
   script:
     - /usr/local/bin/hyperopt_baseline_supervised
@@ -1105,9 +1075,7 @@ hyperopt-tggn:
 
 hyperopt-tlob:
   extends: .train-validate-base
-  needs:
-    - job: compile-training
-      optional: true
+  needs: []  # Binaries fetched from S3, no compile dependency
   timeout: 4h
   script:
     - /usr/local/bin/hyperopt_baseline_supervised
@@ -1144,9 +1112,7 @@ hyperopt-tlob:
 
 hyperopt-kan:
   extends: .train-validate-base
-  needs:
-    - job: compile-training
-      optional: true
+  needs: []  # Binaries fetched from S3, no compile dependency
   timeout: 4h
   script:
     - /usr/local/bin/hyperopt_baseline_supervised
@@ -1183,9 +1149,7 @@ hyperopt-kan:
 
 hyperopt-xlstm:
   extends: .train-validate-base
-  needs:
-    - job: compile-training
-      optional: true
+  needs: []  # Binaries fetched from S3, no compile dependency
   timeout: 4h
   script:
     - /usr/local/bin/hyperopt_baseline_supervised
@@ -1222,9 +1186,7 @@ hyperopt-xlstm:
 
 hyperopt-diffusion:
   extends: .train-validate-base
-  needs:
-    - job: compile-training
-      optional: true
+  needs: []  # Binaries fetched from S3, no compile dependency
   timeout: 4h
   script:
     - /usr/local/bin/hyperopt_baseline_supervised