diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 12377f949b590295f3d5cf045e43d0f285aad1c1..3157ecb1828dcc54c7f68b84e4b4edeaa4b3d761 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -17,9 +17,19 @@
 # https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/blob/master/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Getting-Started.gitlab-ci.yml
 
 stages:          # List of stages for jobs, and their order of execution
+  - simulate
   - build
   - deploy
 
+
+simulate-nanosoc:
+  stage: simulate
+  script:
+    - echo "Simulation phase started"
+    - sleep 5
+  tags:
+    - VLAB-ZCU
+
 build-job-Z2:       # This job runs in the build stage, which runs first.
   stage: build
   script: