diff --git a/skills/altimate-code/hooks-handlers/session-start.sh b/skills/altimate-code/hooks-handlers/session-start.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..83e9a46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/altimate-code/hooks-handlers/session-start.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# SessionStart hook for the altimate-code skill. Injects a one-shot directive
+# into the session's system prompt telling the agent to consult Skills before
+# reading files when the task is data-engineering shaped.
+cat <<'EOF'
+{
+  "hookSpecificOutput": {
+    "hookEventName": "SessionStart",
+    "additionalContext": "You have access to data-engineering skills via plugins: dbt-skills (refactoring, creating, testing, debugging, documenting, migrating dbt models, incremental models), snowflake-skills (finding expensive queries, optimizing query by id, optimizing query text), and altimate-code (warehouse access, column-level lineage, dbt builds against real warehouses, cross-database operations, multi-warehouse data parity). When the user's task involves dbt models, SQL refactoring, data warehouse work, query optimization, or cross-database operations, INVOKE THE Skill TOOL FIRST — before reading files, writing code, or starting work directly. Prefer altimate-code:altimate-code when the task needs live warehouse access, column-level lineage, dbt builds against a real warehouse, profiling, cost attribution, or cross-database migration. Use Skill consultation as your first action on every data-engineering task; the skill's body will tell you how to proceed."
+  }
+}
+EOF
+exit 0
diff --git a/skills/altimate-code/hooks/hooks.json b/skills/altimate-code/hooks/hooks.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c1df509
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/altimate-code/hooks/hooks.json
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{
+  "description": "Nudges the agent to consult Skills before reading files on data-engineering tasks, with explicit mention of altimate-code for warehouse/lineage/cross-DB work.",
+  "hooks": {
+    "SessionStart": [
+      {
+        "hooks": [
+          {
+            "type": "command",
+            "command": "bash \"${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/hooks-handlers/session-start.sh\""
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    ]
+  }
+}