diff --git a/config/config.exs b/config/config.exs
index cfe32727..522cea89 100644
--- a/config/config.exs
+++ b/config/config.exs
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ config :microwaveprop, MicrowavepropWeb.Endpoint,
 config :microwaveprop, Oban,
   engine: Oban.Pro.Engines.Smart,
   repo: Microwaveprop.Repo,
-  queues: [solar: 1, weather: 20, enqueue: 1, hrrr: 5, terrain: 4, commercial: 2, iemre: 10, propagation: 1],
+  queues: [solar: 1, weather: 20, enqueue: 1, hrrr: 5, terrain: 4, commercial: 2, iemre: 10, propagation: 1, admin: 1],
   plugins: [
     {Oban.Plugins.Pruner, max_age: 3600 * 24},
     {Oban.Plugins.Lifeline, rescue_after: to_timeout(minute: 30)},
diff --git a/config/runtime.exs b/config/runtime.exs
index 8ba1734a..1fd043da 100644
--- a/config/runtime.exs
+++ b/config/runtime.exs
@@ -150,7 +150,8 @@ if config_env() == :prod do
         rate_limit: [allowed: 10, period: {1, :hour}]
       ],
       rtma: 2,
-      backfill_enqueue: 1
+      backfill_enqueue: 1,
+      admin: 1
     ],
     plugins: [
       {Oban.Plugins.Pruner, max_age: 3600 * 24},
diff --git a/lib/microwaveprop/release.ex b/lib/microwaveprop/release.ex
index 2f41dd5c..b5f71889 100644
--- a/lib/microwaveprop/release.ex
+++ b/lib/microwaveprop/release.ex
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@ defmodule Microwaveprop.Release do
   @moduledoc """
   Release tasks that run in production without Mix installed.
 
+  Long-running tasks are enqueued as Oban jobs so `eval` returns
+  immediately. Check Oban Web at /admin/oban for progress.
+
   Usage via `bin/microwaveprop eval`:
 
       bin/microwaveprop eval "Microwaveprop.Release.migrate"
@@ -13,6 +16,8 @@ defmodule Microwaveprop.Release do
   """
   @app :microwaveprop
 
+  alias Microwaveprop.Workers.AdminTaskWorker
+
   def migrate do
     load_app()
 
@@ -26,126 +31,29 @@ defmodule Microwaveprop.Release do
     {:ok, _, _} = Ecto.Migrator.with_repo(repo, &Ecto.Migrator.run(&1, :down, to: version))
   end
 
-  @doc """
-  Run a single feature backtest. Prints markdown report to stdout.
-  """
   def backtest(feature_name) when is_binary(feature_name) do
     start_app()
-
-    alias Microwaveprop.Backtest
-    alias Microwaveprop.Backtest.Features
-
-    fun_atom = String.to_atom(feature_name)
-
-    unless function_exported?(Features, fun_atom, 3) do
-      available =
-        Features.__info__(:functions)
-        |> Enum.filter(fn {_, a} -> a == 3 end)
-        |> Enum.map_join(", ", fn {f, _} -> to_string(f) end)
-
-      IO.puts("Unknown feature: #{feature_name}\nAvailable: #{available}")
-      System.halt(1)
-    end
-
-    feature_fun = &apply(Features, fun_atom, [&1, &2, &3])
-    name = "Microwaveprop.Backtest.Features.#{feature_name}"
-
-    report = Backtest.evaluate(feature_fun, sample_size: 5000, feature_name: name)
-    distance_bins = Backtest.lift_by_distance(feature_fun, sample_size: 5000)
-    band_stats = Backtest.lift_by_band(feature_fun, sample_size: 5000)
-
-    IO.puts(Backtest.to_markdown(report, distance_bins: distance_bins, band_stats: band_stats))
+    {:ok, job} = Oban.insert(AdminTaskWorker.new(%{task: "backtest", feature: feature_name}))
+    IO.puts("Enqueued backtest for #{feature_name} (job #{job.id})")
   end
 
-  @doc """
-  Run consolidated backtest across all features. Prints markdown to stdout.
-  """
   def backtest_all do
     start_app()
-
-    alias Microwaveprop.Backtest
-    alias Microwaveprop.Backtest.Features
-
-    features = Features.all_features()
-    IO.puts("Running consolidated backtest for #{map_size(features)} features...")
-
-    results = Backtest.consolidated_report(features, sample_size: 5000)
-    IO.puts(Backtest.to_consolidated_markdown(results))
+    {:ok, job} = Oban.insert(AdminTaskWorker.new(%{task: "backtest_all"}))
+    IO.puts("Enqueued consolidated backtest (job #{job.id})")
   end
 
-  @doc """
-  Build surface temperature climatology from hrrr_profiles.
-  """
   def climatology(min_samples \\ 3) do
     start_app()
-
-    alias Microwaveprop.Repo
-
-    %{rows: combos} =
-      Repo.query!(
-        """
-        SELECT EXTRACT(MONTH FROM valid_time)::int AS month,
-               EXTRACT(HOUR FROM valid_time)::int AS hour
-        FROM hrrr_profiles
-        WHERE surface_temp_c IS NOT NULL AND is_grid_point = true
-        GROUP BY 1, 2
-        ORDER BY 1, 2
-        """,
-        [],
-        timeout: 120_000
-      )
-
-    IO.puts("Building climatology (min_samples=#{min_samples}, #{length(combos)} batches)...")
-
-    total =
-      combos
-      |> Enum.with_index(1)
-      |> Enum.reduce(0, fn {[month, hour], idx}, acc ->
-        %{num_rows: count} =
-          Repo.query!(
-            """
-            INSERT INTO hrrr_climatology (id, lat, lon, month, hour,
-                                          mean_surface_temp_c, stddev_surface_temp_c, sample_count)
-            SELECT gen_random_uuid(), lat, lon,
-                   $2 AS month,
-                   $3 AS hour,
-                   AVG(surface_temp_c),
-                   STDDEV_SAMP(surface_temp_c),
-                   COUNT(*)
-            FROM hrrr_profiles
-            WHERE surface_temp_c IS NOT NULL
-              AND is_grid_point = true
-              AND EXTRACT(MONTH FROM valid_time)::int = $2
-              AND EXTRACT(HOUR FROM valid_time)::int = $3
-            GROUP BY lat, lon
-            HAVING COUNT(*) >= $1
-            ON CONFLICT (lat, lon, month, hour)
-            DO UPDATE SET
-              mean_surface_temp_c = EXCLUDED.mean_surface_temp_c,
-              stddev_surface_temp_c = EXCLUDED.stddev_surface_temp_c,
-              sample_count = EXCLUDED.sample_count
-            """,
-            [min_samples, month, hour],
-            timeout: 300_000
-          )
-
-        IO.puts("  [#{idx}/#{length(combos)}] month=#{month} hour=#{hour}: #{count} rows")
-        acc + count
-      end)
-
-    IO.puts("Upserted #{total} climatology records total.")
+    {:ok, job} = Oban.insert(AdminTaskWorker.new(%{task: "climatology", min_samples: min_samples}))
+    IO.puts("Enqueued climatology build (job #{job.id})")
   end
 
-  @doc """
-  Enqueue native HRRR backfill jobs for the top-N hours by contact count.
-  """
   def native_backfill(limit \\ 500) do
     start_app()
 
-    alias Microwaveprop.Repo
-
     %{rows: rows} =
-      Repo.query!(
+      Microwaveprop.Repo.query!(
         """
         SELECT EXTRACT(YEAR FROM qso_timestamp)::int AS year,
                EXTRACT(MONTH FROM qso_timestamp)::int AS month,
@@ -172,84 +80,17 @@ defmodule Microwaveprop.Release do
              Microwaveprop.Workers.HrrrNativeGridWorker.new(args, unique: [period: :infinity])
            ) do
         {:ok, _} -> IO.puts("  #{year}-#{month}-#{day} #{hour}Z (#{cnt} contacts)")
-        {:error, _} -> IO.puts("  #{year}-#{month}-#{day} #{hour}Z (skipped, already enqueued)")
+        {:error, _} -> IO.puts("  #{year}-#{month}-#{day} #{hour}Z (skipped)")
       end
     end
 
     IO.puts("Done.")
   end
 
-  @doc """
-  Compute derived fields (inversion, Ri, ducts) on native profiles that lack them.
-  """
   def native_derive(limit \\ 10_000) do
     start_app()
-
-    import Ecto.Query
-
-    alias Microwaveprop.Propagation.Duct
-    alias Microwaveprop.Propagation.Inversion
-    alias Microwaveprop.Repo
-    alias Microwaveprop.Weather.HrrrNativeProfile
-    alias Microwaveprop.Weather.ThetaE
-
-    profiles =
-      HrrrNativeProfile
-      |> where([p], is_nil(p.bulk_richardson) and p.level_count > 2)
-      |> limit(^limit)
-      |> Repo.all()
-
-    IO.puts("Deriving fields for #{length(profiles)} profiles...")
-
-    count =
-      Enum.count(profiles, fn profile ->
-        p = %{
-          heights_m: profile.heights_m,
-          temp_k: profile.temp_k,
-          spfh: profile.spfh,
-          pressure_pa: profile.pressure_pa,
-          u_wind_ms: profile.u_wind_ms,
-          v_wind_ms: profile.v_wind_ms,
-          tke_m2s2: profile.tke_m2s2,
-          level_count: profile.level_count
-        }
-
-        inversion_fields =
-          case Inversion.find_inversion_top(p) do
-            {:ok, %{height_m: top_h, level_idx: top_idx, base_idx: base_idx}} ->
-              ri = Inversion.bulk_richardson(p, base_idx, top_idx)
-              shear = Inversion.shear_magnitude(p, base_idx, top_idx)
-              theta_e_jump = ThetaE.theta_e_jump(p, base_idx, top_idx)
-
-              [
-                inversion_top_m: top_h,
-                bulk_richardson: ri,
-                shear_at_top_ms: shear,
-                theta_e_jump_k: theta_e_jump
-              ]
-
-            :none ->
-              [
-                inversion_top_m: nil,
-                bulk_richardson: nil,
-                shear_at_top_ms: nil,
-                theta_e_jump_k: nil
-              ]
-          end
-
-        duct_result = Duct.analyze(p)
-        duct_fields = [ducts: duct_result.ducts, best_duct_band_ghz: duct_result.best_duct_band_ghz]
-        fields = inversion_fields ++ duct_fields
-
-        {1, _} =
-          HrrrNativeProfile
-          |> where([pr], pr.id == ^profile.id)
-          |> Repo.update_all(set: fields)
-
-        true
-      end)
-
-    IO.puts("Updated #{count} profiles with derived fields.")
+    {:ok, job} = Oban.insert(AdminTaskWorker.new(%{task: "native_derive", limit: limit}))
+    IO.puts("Enqueued native derive (job #{job.id})")
   end
 
   defp repos do
@@ -263,6 +104,5 @@ defmodule Microwaveprop.Release do
 
   defp start_app do
     Application.ensure_all_started(@app)
-    Oban.pause_all_queues(Oban)
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/microwaveprop/workers/admin_task_worker.ex b/lib/microwaveprop/workers/admin_task_worker.ex
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..852e0399
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/microwaveprop/workers/admin_task_worker.ex
@@ -0,0 +1,190 @@
+defmodule Microwaveprop.Workers.AdminTaskWorker do
+  @moduledoc """
+  Oban worker for long-running admin tasks (backtests, climatology, etc).
+
+  Enqueued via `Microwaveprop.Release` so that `eval` returns immediately
+  and the work runs in the normal Oban pipeline without blocking.
+
+  Each task type is dispatched by the `"task"` arg:
+
+      Microwaveprop.Workers.AdminTaskWorker.new(%{task: "backtest_all"})
+      Microwaveprop.Workers.AdminTaskWorker.new(%{task: "backtest", feature: "naive_gradient"})
+      Microwaveprop.Workers.AdminTaskWorker.new(%{task: "climatology", min_samples: 3})
+      Microwaveprop.Workers.AdminTaskWorker.new(%{task: "native_derive", limit: 10000})
+  """
+  use Oban.Worker, queue: :admin, max_attempts: 1, unique: [period: 60]
+
+  require Logger
+
+  alias Microwaveprop.Backtest
+  alias Microwaveprop.Backtest.Features
+  alias Microwaveprop.Propagation.Duct
+  alias Microwaveprop.Propagation.Inversion
+  alias Microwaveprop.Repo
+  alias Microwaveprop.Weather.HrrrNativeProfile
+  alias Microwaveprop.Weather.ThetaE
+
+  import Ecto.Query
+
+  @impl Oban.Worker
+  def perform(%Oban.Job{args: %{"task" => "backtest_all"} = args}) do
+    sample_size = Map.get(args, "sample_size", 5000)
+    features = Features.all_features()
+
+    Logger.info("AdminTask: running consolidated backtest for #{map_size(features)} features")
+
+    results = Backtest.consolidated_report(features, sample_size: sample_size)
+    markdown = Backtest.to_consolidated_markdown(results)
+
+    path = "priv/backtest_reports/consolidated.md"
+    File.mkdir_p!(Path.dirname(path))
+    File.write!(path, markdown)
+
+    Logger.info("AdminTask: consolidated backtest complete, wrote #{path}")
+    :ok
+  end
+
+  def perform(%Oban.Job{args: %{"task" => "backtest", "feature" => feature_name} = args}) do
+    sample_size = Map.get(args, "sample_size", 5000)
+    fun_atom = String.to_atom(feature_name)
+
+    unless function_exported?(Features, fun_atom, 3) do
+      Logger.error("AdminTask: unknown feature #{feature_name}")
+      {:error, "unknown feature: #{feature_name}"}
+    end
+
+    feature_fun = &apply(Features, fun_atom, [&1, &2, &3])
+    name = "Microwaveprop.Backtest.Features.#{feature_name}"
+
+    Logger.info("AdminTask: running backtest for #{feature_name}")
+
+    report = Backtest.evaluate(feature_fun, sample_size: sample_size, feature_name: name)
+    distance_bins = Backtest.lift_by_distance(feature_fun, sample_size: sample_size)
+    band_stats = Backtest.lift_by_band(feature_fun, sample_size: sample_size)
+    markdown = Backtest.to_markdown(report, distance_bins: distance_bins, band_stats: band_stats)
+
+    path = "priv/backtest_reports/#{feature_name}.md"
+    File.mkdir_p!(Path.dirname(path))
+    File.write!(path, markdown)
+
+    Logger.info("AdminTask: backtest for #{feature_name} complete, wrote #{path}")
+    :ok
+  end
+
+  def perform(%Oban.Job{args: %{"task" => "climatology"} = args}) do
+    min_samples = Map.get(args, "min_samples", 3)
+
+    %{rows: combos} =
+      Repo.query!(
+        """
+        SELECT EXTRACT(MONTH FROM valid_time)::int AS month,
+               EXTRACT(HOUR FROM valid_time)::int AS hour
+        FROM hrrr_profiles
+        WHERE surface_temp_c IS NOT NULL AND is_grid_point = true
+        GROUP BY 1, 2
+        ORDER BY 1, 2
+        """,
+        [],
+        timeout: 120_000
+      )
+
+    Logger.info("AdminTask: building climatology (min_samples=#{min_samples}, #{length(combos)} batches)")
+
+    total =
+      combos
+      |> Enum.with_index(1)
+      |> Enum.reduce(0, fn {[month, hour], idx}, acc ->
+        %{num_rows: count} =
+          Repo.query!(
+            """
+            INSERT INTO hrrr_climatology (id, lat, lon, month, hour,
+                                          mean_surface_temp_c, stddev_surface_temp_c, sample_count)
+            SELECT gen_random_uuid(), lat, lon,
+                   $2 AS month,
+                   $3 AS hour,
+                   AVG(surface_temp_c),
+                   STDDEV_SAMP(surface_temp_c),
+                   COUNT(*)
+            FROM hrrr_profiles
+            WHERE surface_temp_c IS NOT NULL
+              AND is_grid_point = true
+              AND EXTRACT(MONTH FROM valid_time)::int = $2
+              AND EXTRACT(HOUR FROM valid_time)::int = $3
+            GROUP BY lat, lon
+            HAVING COUNT(*) >= $1
+            ON CONFLICT (lat, lon, month, hour)
+            DO UPDATE SET
+              mean_surface_temp_c = EXCLUDED.mean_surface_temp_c,
+              stddev_surface_temp_c = EXCLUDED.stddev_surface_temp_c,
+              sample_count = EXCLUDED.sample_count
+            """,
+            [min_samples, month, hour],
+            timeout: 300_000
+          )
+
+        if rem(idx, 10) == 0, do: Logger.info("AdminTask: climatology [#{idx}/#{length(combos)}]")
+        acc + count
+      end)
+
+    Logger.info("AdminTask: climatology complete, upserted #{total} records")
+    :ok
+  end
+
+  def perform(%Oban.Job{args: %{"task" => "native_derive"} = args}) do
+    limit = Map.get(args, "limit", 10_000)
+
+    profiles =
+      HrrrNativeProfile
+      |> where([p], is_nil(p.bulk_richardson) and p.level_count > 2)
+      |> limit(^limit)
+      |> Repo.all()
+
+    Logger.info("AdminTask: deriving fields for #{length(profiles)} native profiles")
+
+    count =
+      Enum.count(profiles, fn profile ->
+        p = %{
+          heights_m: profile.heights_m,
+          temp_k: profile.temp_k,
+          spfh: profile.spfh,
+          pressure_pa: profile.pressure_pa,
+          u_wind_ms: profile.u_wind_ms,
+          v_wind_ms: profile.v_wind_ms,
+          tke_m2s2: profile.tke_m2s2,
+          level_count: profile.level_count
+        }
+
+        inversion_fields =
+          case Inversion.find_inversion_top(p) do
+            {:ok, %{height_m: top_h, level_idx: top_idx, base_idx: base_idx}} ->
+              [
+                inversion_top_m: top_h,
+                bulk_richardson: Inversion.bulk_richardson(p, base_idx, top_idx),
+                shear_at_top_ms: Inversion.shear_magnitude(p, base_idx, top_idx),
+                theta_e_jump_k: ThetaE.theta_e_jump(p, base_idx, top_idx)
+              ]
+
+            :none ->
+              [inversion_top_m: nil, bulk_richardson: nil, shear_at_top_ms: nil, theta_e_jump_k: nil]
+          end
+
+        duct_result = Duct.analyze(p)
+        fields = inversion_fields ++ [ducts: duct_result.ducts, best_duct_band_ghz: duct_result.best_duct_band_ghz]
+
+        {1, _} =
+          HrrrNativeProfile
+          |> where([pr], pr.id == ^profile.id)
+          |> Repo.update_all(set: fields)
+
+        true
+      end)
+
+    Logger.info("AdminTask: derived fields for #{count} profiles")
+    :ok
+  end
+
+  def perform(%Oban.Job{args: %{"task" => task}}) do
+    Logger.error("AdminTask: unknown task #{task}")
+    {:error, "unknown task: #{task}"}
+  end
+end