diff --git a/src/specify_cli/workflows/__init__.py b/src/specify_cli/workflows/__init__.py
index 13782f620b..5847ed00c5 100644
--- a/src/specify_cli/workflows/__init__.py
+++ b/src/specify_cli/workflows/__init__.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ def _register_builtin_steps() -> None:
     from .steps.fan_out import FanOutStep
     from .steps.gate import GateStep
     from .steps.if_then import IfThenStep
+    from .steps.init import InitStep
     from .steps.prompt import PromptStep
     from .steps.shell import ShellStep
     from .steps.switch import SwitchStep
@@ -59,6 +60,7 @@ def _register_builtin_steps() -> None:
     _register_step(FanOutStep())
     _register_step(GateStep())
     _register_step(IfThenStep())
+    _register_step(InitStep())
     _register_step(PromptStep())
     _register_step(ShellStep())
     _register_step(SwitchStep())
diff --git a/src/specify_cli/workflows/engine.py b/src/specify_cli/workflows/engine.py
index d24bc29501..0d56f7df70 100644
--- a/src/specify_cli/workflows/engine.py
+++ b/src/specify_cli/workflows/engine.py
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ def _get_valid_step_types() -> set[str]:
     if STEP_REGISTRY:
         return set(STEP_REGISTRY.keys())
     return {
-        "command", "shell", "prompt", "gate", "if",
+        "command", "shell", "prompt", "gate", "if", "init",
         "switch", "while", "do-while", "fan-out", "fan-in",
     }
 
diff --git a/src/specify_cli/workflows/steps/init/__init__.py b/src/specify_cli/workflows/steps/init/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ce326976c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/specify_cli/workflows/steps/init/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,265 @@
+"""Init step — bootstrap a Spec Kit project from within a workflow.
+
+Runs the same scaffolding as ``specify init`` so a workflow can create
+(or merge into) a project before driving the rest of the spec-driven
+process.  The step invokes the ``init`` command in-process and captures
+its exit code and output.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+from typing import Any
+
+from specify_cli._agent_config import DEFAULT_INIT_INTEGRATION
+from specify_cli.workflows.base import StepBase, StepContext, StepResult, StepStatus
+from specify_cli.workflows.expressions import evaluate_expression
+
+#: Valid ``script`` values, mirroring ``specify init --script``.
+VALID_SCRIPT_TYPES = ("sh", "ps")
+
+#: Directories the workflow engine may create before steps run.
+#: These are excluded from the "non-empty directory" fast-fail check so
+#: that ``here: true`` works without requiring ``force: true`` when the
+#: only pre-existing content is engine run-state.
+_ENGINE_OWNED_DIRS = {".specify"}
+
+
+class InitStep(StepBase):
+    """Bootstrap a project, equivalent to running ``specify init``.
+
+    The step runs the bundled ``specify init`` command non-interactively,
+    scaffolding templates, scripts, shared infrastructure, and the
+    selected coding agent integration into the target directory.
+
+    Because workflows run unattended, the step defaults to
+    ``--ignore-agent-tools`` (skip checks for an installed agent CLI) and
+    resolves the integration from the step config, falling back to the
+    workflow-level default integration.
+
+    Example YAML::
+
+        - id: bootstrap
+          type: init
+          here: true
+          integration: copilot
+          script: sh
+
+    Supported config fields (all optional):
+
+    ``project``
+        Project name or path to create.  Use ``"."`` for the current
+        directory.  Ignored when ``here`` is truthy.
+    ``here``
+        Initialize in the target directory instead of creating a new one.
+    ``integration``
+        Integration key (e.g. ``copilot``).  Defaults to the workflow's
+        default integration, then to ``DEFAULT_INIT_INTEGRATION``.
+    ``integration_options``
+        Extra options for the integration (e.g. ``"--skills"`` or
+        ``"--commands-dir .myagent/cmds"``).
+    ``script``
+        Script type, ``sh`` or ``ps``.
+    ``force``
+        Merge/overwrite without confirmation when the directory is not
+        empty.
+    ``ignore_agent_tools``
+        Skip checks for the coding agent CLI (defaults to ``true``).
+    ``preset``
+        Preset ID to install during initialization.
+    """
+
+    type_key = "init"
+
+    def execute(self, config: dict[str, Any], context: StepContext) -> StepResult:
+        project = self._resolve(config.get("project"), context)
+        here = self._resolve_bool(config.get("here"), context)
+
+        integration = config.get("integration") or context.default_integration
+        integration = self._resolve(integration, context)
+        # Apply the same default that specify init uses in non-interactive mode
+        # so that output.integration reflects the actual integration used.
+        if not integration:
+            integration = DEFAULT_INIT_INTEGRATION
+
+        integration_options = self._resolve(
+            config.get("integration_options"), context
+        )
+        script = self._resolve(config.get("script"), context)
+        preset = self._resolve(config.get("preset"), context)
+
+        force = self._resolve_bool(config.get("force"), context)
+        # Workflows run unattended; skip the agent CLI presence check by default.
+        ignore_agent_tools = self._resolve_bool(
+            config.get("ignore_agent_tools", True), context
+        )
+
+        argv: list[str] = ["init"]
+        if here:
+            argv.append("--here")
+        elif project:
+            argv.append(str(project))
+        else:
+            # No explicit target → initialize the current directory.
+            argv.append(".")
+
+        # When the target is the current directory and ``force`` is not set,
+        # ``specify init`` prompts for confirmation if the directory is not
+        # empty.  Workflows run unattended (no stdin), so the prompt would
+        # abort with a confusing error.  Fail fast with an actionable message.
+        # Exception: if the only pre-existing content is engine-owned (e.g.
+        # .specify/workflows/runs/), treat it as implicitly empty and auto-add
+        # --force so init can proceed unattended.
+        targets_current_dir = here or not project or str(project) == "."
+        if targets_current_dir and not force:
+            base = context.project_root or os.getcwd()
+            try:
+                with os.scandir(base) as it:
+                    non_engine_entries = [
+                        entry for entry in it
+                        if entry.name not in _ENGINE_OWNED_DIRS
+                    ]
+            except OSError:
+                non_engine_entries = []
+            if non_engine_entries:
+                error_message = (
+                    f"Target directory {base!r} is not empty. Set "
+                    "'force: true' to merge into a non-empty directory."
+                )
+                return StepResult(
+                    status=StepStatus.FAILED,
+                    output={
+                        "argv": argv,
+                        "project": project,
+                        "here": here,
+                        "integration": integration,
+                        "integration_options": integration_options,
+                        "script": script,
+                        "exit_code": 1,
+                        "stdout": "",
+                        "stderr": error_message,
+                    },
+                    error=error_message,
+                )
+            else:
+                # Only engine-owned dirs exist — implicitly force so specify
+                # init doesn't prompt about the non-empty directory.
+                force = True
+
+        if integration:
+            argv.extend(["--integration", str(integration)])
+        if integration_options:
+            argv.extend(["--integration-options", str(integration_options)])
+        if script:
+            argv.extend(["--script", str(script)])
+        if preset:
+            argv.extend(["--preset", str(preset)])
+        if force:
+            argv.append("--force")
+        if ignore_agent_tools:
+            argv.append("--ignore-agent-tools")
+
+        exit_code, stdout, stderr = self._run_init(argv, context)
+
+        output: dict[str, Any] = {
+            "argv": argv,
+            "project": project,
+            "here": here,
+            "integration": integration,
+            "integration_options": integration_options,
+            "script": script,
+            "exit_code": exit_code,
+            "stdout": stdout,
+            "stderr": stderr,
+        }
+
+        if exit_code != 0:
+            return StepResult(
+                status=StepStatus.FAILED,
+                output=output,
+                error=(
+                    stderr.strip()
+                    or stdout.strip()
+                    or f"specify init exited with code {exit_code}."
+                ),
+            )
+        return StepResult(status=StepStatus.COMPLETED, output=output)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _resolve(value: Any, context: StepContext) -> Any:
+        """Resolve ``{{ ... }}`` expressions in string config values."""
+        if isinstance(value, str) and "{{" in value:
+            return evaluate_expression(value, context)
+        return value
+
+    @classmethod
+    def _resolve_bool(cls, value: Any, context: StepContext) -> bool:
+        """Coerce a config value (possibly an expression) to a boolean."""
+        resolved = cls._resolve(value, context)
+        if isinstance(resolved, str):
+            return resolved.strip().lower() in ("true", "1", "yes")
+        return bool(resolved)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _run_init(
+        argv: list[str], context: StepContext
+    ) -> tuple[int, str, str]:
+        """Invoke ``specify init`` in-process and capture exit code/output.
+
+        Runs with the working directory set to ``context.project_root`` so
+        that ``--here`` and relative project paths target the right place.
+        """
+        from typer.testing import CliRunner
+
+        from specify_cli import app
+
+        runner = CliRunner()
+
+        prev_cwd = os.getcwd()
+        if context.project_root:
+            try:
+                os.chdir(context.project_root)
+            except OSError as exc:
+                return (1, "", f"Cannot enter project root: {exc}")
+        try:
+            result = runner.invoke(app, argv, catch_exceptions=True)
+        finally:
+            try:
+                os.chdir(prev_cwd)
+            except OSError:
+                # Best-effort cleanup: avoid masking the init command result
+                # if restoring the previous working directory fails.
+                pass
+
+        stdout = result.output or ""
+        # click >= 8.2 captures stderr separately; older versions mix it into
+        # stdout and raise when ``result.stderr`` is accessed.
+        try:
+            stderr = result.stderr or ""
+        except (ValueError, AttributeError):
+            stderr = ""
+
+        if result.exit_code != 0 and result.exception is not None:
+            detail = f"{type(result.exception).__name__}: {result.exception}"
+            stderr = f"{stderr}\n{detail}".strip() if stderr else detail
+
+        return (result.exit_code, stdout, stderr)
+
+    def validate(self, config: dict[str, Any]) -> list[str]:
+        errors = super().validate(config)
+        script = config.get("script")
+        if script is not None and not isinstance(script, str):
+            errors.append(
+                f"Init step {config.get('id', '?')!r}: 'script' must be a string "
+                f"({' or '.join(repr(s) for s in VALID_SCRIPT_TYPES)})."
+            )
+        elif (
+            isinstance(script, str)
+            and "{{" not in script
+            and script not in VALID_SCRIPT_TYPES
+        ):
+            errors.append(
+                f"Init step {config.get('id', '?')!r}: 'script' must be "
+                f"{' or '.join(repr(s) for s in VALID_SCRIPT_TYPES)}."
+            )
+        return errors
diff --git a/tests/test_workflows.py b/tests/test_workflows.py
index 51da5cc86b..f0ff557b1e 100644
--- a/tests/test_workflows.py
+++ b/tests/test_workflows.py
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ def test_all_step_types_registered(self):
 
         expected = {
             "command", "shell", "prompt", "gate", "if", "switch",
-            "while", "do-while", "fan-out", "fan-in",
+            "while", "do-while", "fan-out", "fan-in", "init",
         }
         assert expected.issubset(set(STEP_REGISTRY.keys()))
 
@@ -979,6 +979,171 @@ def _force_gate_stdin(monkeypatch, *, tty: bool):
     monkeypatch.setattr(gate_module, "sys", _FakeSys(tty=tty))
 
 
+class TestInitStep:
+    """Test the init step type."""
+
+    def test_builds_here_argv_and_bootstraps(self, tmp_path):
+        from specify_cli.workflows.steps.init import InitStep
+        from specify_cli.workflows.base import StepContext, StepStatus
+
+        step = InitStep()
+        ctx = StepContext(
+            project_root=str(tmp_path), default_integration="copilot"
+        )
+        config = {"id": "bootstrap", "here": True, "script": "sh"}
+        result = step.execute(config, ctx)
+
+        assert result.status == StepStatus.COMPLETED
+        assert result.output["exit_code"] == 0
+        argv = result.output["argv"]
+        assert argv[0] == "init"
+        assert "--here" in argv
+        assert "--integration" in argv and "copilot" in argv
+        assert "--ignore-agent-tools" in argv
+        assert (tmp_path / ".specify").is_dir()
+
+    def test_default_integration_falls_back_to_workflow_default(self, tmp_path):
+        from specify_cli.workflows.steps.init import InitStep
+        from specify_cli.workflows.base import StepContext, StepStatus
+
+        step = InitStep()
+        ctx = StepContext(
+            project_root=str(tmp_path), default_integration="copilot"
+        )
+        result = step.execute(
+            {"id": "bootstrap", "here": True, "script": "sh"}, ctx
+        )
+        assert result.status == StepStatus.COMPLETED
+        assert result.output["integration"] == "copilot"
+
+    def test_project_name_creates_subdirectory(self, tmp_path):
+        from specify_cli.workflows.steps.init import InitStep
+        from specify_cli.workflows.base import StepContext, StepStatus
+
+        step = InitStep()
+        ctx = StepContext(
+            project_root=str(tmp_path), default_integration="copilot"
+        )
+        result = step.execute(
+            {
+                "id": "bootstrap",
+                "project": "demo",
+                "script": "sh",
+            },
+            ctx,
+        )
+        assert result.status == StepStatus.COMPLETED
+        assert (tmp_path / "demo" / ".specify").is_dir()
+
+    def test_invalid_integration_fails(self, tmp_path):
+        from specify_cli.workflows.steps.init import InitStep
+        from specify_cli.workflows.base import StepContext, StepStatus
+
+        step = InitStep()
+        ctx = StepContext(project_root=str(tmp_path))
+        result = step.execute(
+            {
+                "id": "bootstrap",
+                "here": True,
+                "integration": "no-such-agent",
+                "script": "sh",
+            },
+            ctx,
+        )
+        assert result.status == StepStatus.FAILED
+        assert result.output["exit_code"] != 0
+        assert result.error is not None
+
+    def test_non_empty_current_dir_without_force_fails_fast(self, tmp_path):
+        from specify_cli.workflows.steps.init import InitStep
+        from specify_cli.workflows.base import StepContext, StepStatus
+
+        (tmp_path / "existing.txt").write_text("data")
+
+        step = InitStep()
+        ctx = StepContext(
+            project_root=str(tmp_path), default_integration="copilot"
+        )
+        result = step.execute(
+            {"id": "bootstrap", "here": True, "script": "sh"},
+            ctx,
+        )
+        assert result.status == StepStatus.FAILED
+        assert "force: true" in (result.error or "")
+        assert not (tmp_path / ".specify").exists()
+
+    def test_engine_owned_dirs_do_not_trigger_non_empty_check(self, tmp_path):
+        from specify_cli.workflows.steps.init import InitStep
+        from specify_cli.workflows.base import StepContext, StepStatus
+
+        # Simulate the engine creating its run-state directory before steps run
+        (tmp_path / ".specify" / "workflows" / "runs" / "abc123").mkdir(
+            parents=True
+        )
+
+        step = InitStep()
+        ctx = StepContext(
+            project_root=str(tmp_path), default_integration="copilot"
+        )
+        result = step.execute(
+            {"id": "bootstrap", "here": True, "script": "sh"},
+            ctx,
+        )
+        assert result.status == StepStatus.COMPLETED
+        # Verify --force was implicitly added
+        assert "--force" in result.output["argv"]
+
+    def test_default_integration_when_none_provided(self, tmp_path):
+        from specify_cli.workflows.steps.init import InitStep
+        from specify_cli.workflows.base import StepContext, StepStatus
+
+        step = InitStep()
+        # No default_integration on context either
+        ctx = StepContext(project_root=str(tmp_path))
+        result = step.execute(
+            {"id": "bootstrap", "here": True, "script": "sh"},
+            ctx,
+        )
+        assert result.status == StepStatus.COMPLETED
+        assert result.output["integration"] == "copilot"
+
+    def test_integration_options_passed_through(self, tmp_path):
+        from specify_cli.workflows.steps.init import InitStep
+        from specify_cli.workflows.base import StepContext, StepStatus
+
+        step = InitStep()
+        ctx = StepContext(
+            project_root=str(tmp_path), default_integration="copilot"
+        )
+        result = step.execute(
+            {
+                "id": "bootstrap",
+                "here": True,
+                "script": "sh",
+                "integration": "copilot",
+                "integration_options": "--skills",
+            },
+            ctx,
+        )
+        assert result.status == StepStatus.COMPLETED
+        assert "--integration-options" in result.output["argv"]
+        assert "--skills" in result.output["argv"]
+        assert result.output["integration_options"] == "--skills"
+
+    def test_validate_rejects_bad_script(self):
+        from specify_cli.workflows.steps.init import InitStep
+
+        step = InitStep()
+        errors = step.validate({"id": "bootstrap", "script": "bogus"})
+        assert any("'script' must be 'sh' or 'ps'" in e for e in errors)
+
+    def test_validate_accepts_valid(self):
+        from specify_cli.workflows.steps.init import InitStep
+
+        step = InitStep()
+        assert step.validate({"id": "bootstrap", "script": "sh"}) == []
+
+
 class TestGateStep:
     """Test the gate step type."""
 
diff --git a/workflows/ARCHITECTURE.md b/workflows/ARCHITECTURE.md
index 892333473c..113545f334 100644
--- a/workflows/ARCHITECTURE.md
+++ b/workflows/ARCHITECTURE.md
@@ -77,13 +77,14 @@ When a `gate` step pauses execution, the engine persists `current_step_index` an
 
 ## Step Types
 
-The engine ships with 10 built-in step types, each in its own subpackage under `src/specify_cli/workflows/steps/`:
+The engine ships with 11 built-in step types, each in its own subpackage under `src/specify_cli/workflows/steps/`:
 
 | Type Key | Class | Purpose | Returns `next_steps`? |
 |----------|-------|---------|-----------------------|
 | `command` | `CommandStep` | Invoke an installed Spec Kit command via integration CLI | No |
 | `prompt` | `PromptStep` | Send an arbitrary inline prompt to integration CLI | No |
 | `shell` | `ShellStep` | Run a shell command, capture output | No |
+| `init` | `InitStep` | Bootstrap a project (equivalent to `specify init`) | No |
 | `gate` | `GateStep` | Interactive human review/approval | No (pauses in CI) |
 | `if` | `IfThenStep` | Conditional branching (then/else) | Yes |
 | `switch` | `SwitchStep` | Multi-branch dispatch on expression | Yes |
@@ -197,6 +198,7 @@ src/specify_cli/
 │   └── steps/
 │       ├── command/         # Dispatch command to AI integration
 │       ├── shell/           # Run shell command
+│       ├── init/            # Bootstrap a project (specify init)
 │       ├── gate/            # Human review checkpoint
 │       ├── if_then/         # Conditional branching
 │       ├── prompt/          # Arbitrary inline prompts
diff --git a/workflows/README.md b/workflows/README.md
index 0e3e74a924..d77a7cddd1 100644
--- a/workflows/README.md
+++ b/workflows/README.md
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ specify workflow run speckit \
 
 ## Step Types
 
-Workflows support 10 built-in step types:
+Workflows support 11 built-in step types:
 
 ### Command Steps (default)
 
@@ -114,6 +114,24 @@ Run a shell command and capture output:
   run: "cd {{ inputs.project_dir }} && npm test"
 ```
 
+### Init Steps
+
+Bootstrap a project the same way `specify init` does — scaffolding
+templates, scripts, shared infrastructure, and the selected coding agent
+integration. Runs non-interactively (defaults to `--ignore-agent-tools`)
+and resolves the integration from the step config or the workflow default:
+
+```yaml
+- id: bootstrap
+  type: init
+  here: true                 # or: project: my-project
+  integration: copilot       # Optional: defaults to workflow integration
+  integration_options: "--skills"  # Optional: extra options for the integration
+  script: sh                 # Optional: sh or ps
+  force: true                # Optional: required to merge into a non-empty directory
+  preset: healthcare-compliance   # Optional preset ID
+```
+
 ### Gate Steps
 
 Pause for human review. The workflow resumes when `specify workflow resume` is called: