diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 2bf37729..71ce1f52 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -210,4 +210,4 @@ model_display_names.json
 
 # DreamLayer logs and test logs
 logs
-test-logs
\ No newline at end of file
+test-logsdream_layer_backend/matrix_runner_state.json
diff --git a/dream_layer_backend/dream_layer.py b/dream_layer_backend/dream_layer.py
index 70d11481..94da0c10 100644
--- a/dream_layer_backend/dream_layer.py
+++ b/dream_layer_backend/dream_layer.py
@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@
 import json
 import subprocess
 from dream_layer_backend_utils.random_prompt_generator import fetch_positive_prompt, fetch_negative_prompt
+from dream_layer_backend_utils.task_runner import MatrixRunner
 from dream_layer_backend_utils.fetch_advanced_models import get_lora_models, get_settings, is_valid_directory, get_upscaler_models, get_controlnet_models
+
 # Add ComfyUI directory to Python path
 current_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
 parent_dir = os.path.dirname(current_dir)
@@ -120,6 +122,10 @@ def import_comfyui_main():
     }
 })
 
+# Persist state next to backend code so it survives restarts/page refresh
+MATRIX_STATE_FILE = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "matrix_runner_state.json")
+runner = MatrixRunner(state_file=MATRIX_STATE_FILE)
+
 COMFY_API_URL = "http://127.0.0.1:8188"
 
 def get_available_models():
@@ -432,6 +438,55 @@ def send_to_img2img():
     except Exception as e:
         return jsonify({"status": "error", "message": str(e)}), 500
 
+@app.route('/api/matrix-runner/start', methods=['POST'])
+def matrix_runner_start():
+    try:
+        data = request.json or {}
+        # accept lists/ranges for seeds, steps, samplers, etc.
+        # keep only list-valued keys for the sweep
+        param_dict = {k: v for k, v in data.items() if isinstance(v, list)}
+        runner.generate(param_dict)              # deterministic expansion
+        return jsonify({"status":"success","total_jobs": len(runner.jobs)})
+    except Exception as e:
+        return jsonify({"status":"error","message": str(e)}), 500
+
+@app.route('/api/matrix-runner/pause', methods=['POST'])
+def matrix_runner_pause():
+    runner.pause()
+    return jsonify({"status":"paused"})
+
+@app.route('/api/matrix-runner/resume', methods=['POST'])
+def matrix_runner_resume():
+    runner.resume()
+    return jsonify({"status":"resumed"})
+
+@app.route('/api/matrix-runner/status', methods=['GET'])
+def matrix_runner_status():
+    jobs = runner.jobs
+    return jsonify({
+        "status":"ok",
+        "total_jobs": len(jobs),
+        "pending": sum(j["status"]=="pending" for j in jobs),
+        "running": sum(j["status"]=="running" for j in jobs),
+        "done":    sum(j["status"]=="done"    for j in jobs),
+        "paused":  runner.paused
+    })
+
+@app.route('/api/matrix-runner/next', methods=['POST'])
+def matrix_runner_next():
+    """Return the next job (and mark it running) so the executor can process it."""
+    job = runner.next_job()
+    if not job:
+        return jsonify({"status":"empty"})
+    return jsonify({"status":"ok","job": job})
+
+@app.route('/api/matrix-runner/complete', methods=['POST'])
+def matrix_runner_complete():
+    data = request.json or {}
+    job_id = data.get("job_id")
+    runner.complete_job(job_id)
+    return jsonify({"status":"ok"})
+
 @app.route('/api/send-to-extras', methods=['POST', 'OPTIONS'])
 def send_to_extras():
     """Send image to extras tab"""
diff --git a/dream_layer_backend/dream_layer_backend_utils/task_runner.py b/dream_layer_backend/dream_layer_backend_utils/task_runner.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..efcadd58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dream_layer_backend/dream_layer_backend_utils/task_runner.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+"""
+# dream_layer_backend/task_runner.py
+# Author: Natalia Rodriguez Figueroa
+# Email: natalia_rodriguezuc@berkeley.edu
+
+# Task 2: Implement a matrix/grid image generation workflow. 
+"""
+
+import os
+import json
+import random
+import logging
+import itertools
+from flask import Flask, request, jsonify
+from flask_cors import CORS
+from PIL import Image
+import numpy as np
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+import itertools
+import json
+import os
+
+class MatrixRunner:
+    def __init__(self, state_file="matrix_jobs.json"):
+        self.state_file = state_file
+        self.jobs = []
+        self.index = 0
+        self.paused = False
+        self.load()
+
+    # --- Core Job Management ---
+    def generate(self, param_dict):
+        """Create all jobs from parameter ranges and reset state"""
+        keys = list(param_dict.keys())
+        combos = list(itertools.product(*param_dict.values()))
+        self.jobs = [
+            {"id": i, **dict(zip(keys, combo)), "status": "pending"}
+            for i, combo in enumerate(combos)
+        ]
+        self.index = 0
+        self.paused = False
+        self.save()
+
+    def next_job(self):
+        """Get the next pending job and mark it as running"""
+        if self.paused:
+            return None
+        while self.index < len(self.jobs):
+            job = self.jobs[self.index]
+            self.index += 1
+            if job["status"] == "pending":
+                job["status"] = "running"
+                self.save()
+                return job
+        return None  # No more jobs
+
+    def complete_job(self, job_id):
+        """Mark job as done"""
+        for job in self.jobs:
+            if job["id"] == job_id:
+                job["status"] = "done"
+                break
+        self.save()
+
+    # --- Pause / Resume ---
+    def pause(self):
+        self.paused = True
+        self.save()
+
+    def resume(self):
+        self.paused = False
+        self.save()
+
+    # --- Persistence ---
+    def save(self):
+        with open(self.state_file, "w") as f:
+            json.dump(
+                {"jobs": self.jobs, "index": self.index, "paused": self.paused}, f, indent=2
+            )
+
+    def load(self):
+        if os.path.exists(self.state_file):
+            with open(self.state_file, "r") as f:
+                state = json.load(f)
+            self.jobs = state.get("jobs", [])
+            self.index = state.get("index", 0)
+            self.paused = state.get("paused", False)
diff --git a/dream_layer_backend/matrix_runner_state.json b/dream_layer_backend/matrix_runner_state.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f3525001
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dream_layer_backend/matrix_runner_state.json
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+{
+  "jobs": [
+    {
+      "id": 0,
+      "seeds": 1,
+      "steps": 10,
+      "Samplers": "euler",
+      "status": "done"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": 1,
+      "seeds": 1,
+      "steps": 20,
+      "Samplers": "euler",
+      "status": "running"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": 2,
+      "seeds": 2,
+      "steps": 10,
+      "Samplers": "euler",
+      "status": "pending"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": 3,
+      "seeds": 2,
+      "steps": 20,
+      "Samplers": "euler",
+      "status": "pending"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": 4,
+      "seeds": 3,
+      "steps": 10,
+      "Samplers": "euler",
+      "status": "pending"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": 5,
+      "seeds": 3,
+      "steps": 20,
+      "Samplers": "euler",
+      "status": "pending"
+    }
+  ],
+  "index": 2,
+  "paused": false
+}
\ No newline at end of file