diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index ec0cfb6d0..6ad5aeac0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -31,6 +31,49 @@ env:
   IMAGE_PREFIX: ${{ github.repository }}
 
 jobs:
+  # ============================================================================
+  # Job 0: Generate protobuf code (required by all builds)
+  # ============================================================================
+  generate-proto:
+    name: Generate Protobuf Code
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    timeout-minutes: 10
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Setup Go
+        uses: actions/setup-go@v5
+        with:
+          go-version: '1.21'
+
+      - name: Setup protoc
+        uses: arduino/setup-protoc@v3
+        with:
+          version: '25.x'
+          repo-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+      - name: Install protoc-gen-go
+        run: |
+          go install google.golang.org/protobuf/cmd/protoc-gen-go@latest
+          go install google.golang.org/grpc/cmd/protoc-gen-go-grpc@latest
+
+      - name: Install buf
+        uses: bufbuild/buf-setup-action@v1
+        with:
+          github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+      - name: Generate protobuf code
+        run: make proto-go
+
+      - name: Upload generated proto code
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: proto-generated
+          path: pkg/plugin/gen/
+          retention-days: 1
+
   # ============================================================================
   # Job 1: Build release and debug binaries for all platforms
   # ============================================================================
@@ -38,6 +81,7 @@ jobs:
     name: Build Binaries (${{ matrix.service }}-${{ matrix.os }}-${{ matrix.arch }})
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.runner }}
     timeout-minutes: 20
+    needs: generate-proto
 
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
@@ -63,6 +107,12 @@ jobs:
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0  # Full history for version info
 
+      - name: Download generated proto code
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: proto-generated
+          path: pkg/plugin/gen/
+
       - name: Setup Go
         uses: actions/setup-go@v5
         with:
@@ -186,6 +236,7 @@ jobs:
     name: Build Rust Proxy (${{ matrix.target }})
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.runner }}
     timeout-minutes: 30
+    needs: generate-proto
 
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
@@ -214,6 +265,12 @@ jobs:
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
 
+      - name: Download generated proto code
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: proto-generated
+          path: pkg/plugin/gen/
+
       - name: Setup Rust
         uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
         with: