diff --git a/core/src/castle_core/deploy.py b/core/src/castle_core/deploy.py
index fdf81e0..2093ff7 100644
--- a/core/src/castle_core/deploy.py
+++ b/core/src/castle_core/deploy.py
@@ -745,15 +745,21 @@ def _env_context(
     return ctx
 
 
-def _write_secret_env_file(name: str, secret_env: dict[str, str]) -> Path | None:
+def _write_secret_env_file(
+    name: str, secret_env: dict[str, str], kind: str = "service"
+) -> Path | None:
     """Write a deployment's resolved secrets to a mode-0600 env file.
 
     Keeps secrets out of the generated unit file and the process argv: systemd
     loads it via ``EnvironmentFile=`` and docker via ``--env-file``. Returns the
     path, or ``None`` (after removing any stale file) when there are no secrets,
     so a service that drops its last secret doesn't leave a dangling file.
+
+    ``kind`` must match the unit's kind so the filename lines up with the unit's
+    ``EnvironmentFile=`` (jobs carry a ``-job`` marker); otherwise systemd looks
+    for a file that was never written and the unit fails to start.
     """
-    path = secret_env_path(name)
+    path = secret_env_path(name, kind)
     if not secret_env:
         path.unlink(missing_ok=True)
         return None
@@ -899,7 +905,7 @@ def _build_deployed(
             }
         )
     env, secret_env = resolve_env_split(raw_env, ctx)
-    secret_env_file = _write_secret_env_file(name, secret_env)
+    secret_env_file = _write_secret_env_file(name, secret_env, kind)
 
     # `command` launchers resolve a tool on PATH → ensure it's installed.
     # `python` launchers run in place via `uv run` (below) — no tool venv.