diff --git a/src/freeroute/route/__init__.py b/src/freeroute/route/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..22f7587
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/freeroute/route/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+"""Autorouting for freeroute.
+
+An MVP grid-based maze router and the DSN-in / SES-out pipeline that makes
+freeroute a Java-free replacement for the ``freerouting.jar`` step::
+
+    from freeroute.route import route
+    ses_text = route(dsn_text)
+
+The router (:class:`GridRouter`) is intentionally simple — single-layer A* over
+a uniform occupancy grid, enough to reach connectivity on boards whose nets
+route without crossing. FreeRouting's free-space expansion-room maze, rip-up,
+multi-layer via search, and shove are deferred.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from .grid_router import GridRouter, RouteResult, route_board
+from .pipeline import build_routing_result, route, route_dsn_board
+
+__all__ = [
+    "GridRouter",
+    "RouteResult",
+    "route_board",
+    "route",
+    "route_dsn_board",
+    "build_routing_result",
+]
diff --git a/src/freeroute/route/grid_router.py b/src/freeroute/route/grid_router.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2adaa8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/freeroute/route/grid_router.py
@@ -0,0 +1,259 @@
+"""A grid-based maze router (MVP).
+
+This is an *MVP* autorouter, not a port of FreeRouting's expansion-room maze.
+Per the phase brief the milestone is connectivity parity with the reference JAR
+on a simple board, not FreeRouting-quality optimization. It routes on a single
+signal layer with an A* search over a uniform occupancy grid:
+
+* a cell is blocked if it overlaps another net's pad or a keepout, inflated by
+  ``clearance + half trace width``;
+* each net's ratsnest is connected pin-to-pin; a routed trace's cells then block
+  other nets (so routes do not overlap);
+* the resulting cell path is turned into a trace polyline whose endpoints are the
+  exact pin locations.
+
+Deferred (router phase, exact-geometry track): FreeRouting's free-space
+expansion rooms, rip-up-and-retry, multi-layer via search, and shove. Those
+raise quality/completeness; this reaches connectivity on boards whose nets route
+on one layer without crossing.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import heapq
+import math
+
+from freeroute.board.board import BasicBoard
+from freeroute.board.items import ObstacleArea, Pin
+from freeroute.geometry import IntPoint
+
+__all__ = ["GridRouter", "RouteResult", "route_board"]
+
+# 8-connected neighbourhood (orthogonal + diagonal) for 45-degree routing.
+_NEIGHBOURS = [
+    (1, 0),
+    (-1, 0),
+    (0, 1),
+    (0, -1),
+    (1, 1),
+    (1, -1),
+    (-1, 1),
+    (-1, -1),
+]
+
+
+class RouteResult:
+    """Per-net routing outcome in *board* units.
+
+    ``wires`` maps a net number to a list of trace paths (each a list of
+    :class:`IntPoint`). ``routed_net_numbers`` are the nets that got >= 1 trace.
+    """
+
+    __slots__ = ("wires", "half_width", "layer")
+
+    def __init__(self, half_width: int, layer: int) -> None:
+        self.wires: dict[int, list[list[IntPoint]]] = {}
+        self.half_width = half_width
+        self.layer = layer
+
+    def add(self, net_no: int, path: list[IntPoint]) -> None:
+        self.wires.setdefault(net_no, []).append(path)
+
+    @property
+    def routed_net_numbers(self) -> set[int]:
+        return {n for n, paths in self.wires.items() if paths}
+
+
+class GridRouter:
+    """Routes a :class:`BasicBoard` on one layer with a uniform-grid A* search."""
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        board: BasicBoard,
+        *,
+        trace_width: int,
+        clearance: int,
+        layer: int = 0,
+    ) -> None:
+        self.board = board
+        self.trace_width = max(trace_width, 1)
+        self.clearance = max(clearance, 0)
+        self.layer = layer
+        self.half_width = self.trace_width // 2
+        # cell size must fit a trace plus its clearance to a neighbouring trace
+        self.step = max(self.trace_width + self.clearance, 1)
+
+        box = board.bounding_box
+        self.origin_x = box.ll.x
+        self.origin_y = box.ll.y
+        self.cols = max(1, math.ceil((box.ur.x - box.ll.x) / self.step) + 1)
+        self.rows = max(1, math.ceil((box.ur.y - box.ll.y) / self.step) + 1)
+
+        # cell -> set of net numbers whose pad blocks it; keepout cells; trace cells
+        self._pad_block: dict[tuple[int, int], set[int]] = {}
+        self._keepout: set[tuple[int, int]] = set()
+        self._trace_block: dict[tuple[int, int], int] = {}
+        self._rasterize_obstacles()
+
+    # --- grid helpers -------------------------------------------------------
+
+    def _cell_of(self, point: IntPoint) -> tuple[int, int]:
+        gx = round((point.x - self.origin_x) / self.step)
+        gy = round((point.y - self.origin_y) / self.step)
+        gx = min(max(gx, 0), self.cols - 1)
+        gy = min(max(gy, 0), self.rows - 1)
+        return gx, gy
+
+    def _cell_center(self, gx: int, gy: int) -> IntPoint:
+        return IntPoint(self.origin_x + gx * self.step, self.origin_y + gy * self.step)
+
+    def _cells_in_box(self, box, margin: int):
+        lo_x = round((box.ll.x - margin - self.origin_x) / self.step)
+        hi_x = round((box.ur.x + margin - self.origin_x) / self.step)
+        lo_y = round((box.ll.y - margin - self.origin_y) / self.step)
+        hi_y = round((box.ur.y + margin - self.origin_y) / self.step)
+        for gx in range(max(lo_x, 0), min(hi_x, self.cols - 1) + 1):
+            for gy in range(max(lo_y, 0), min(hi_y, self.rows - 1) + 1):
+                yield gx, gy
+
+    def _rasterize_obstacles(self) -> None:
+        margin = self.clearance + self.half_width
+        for item in self.board.get_items():
+            if isinstance(item, Pin):
+                if self.layer not in item.layers:
+                    continue
+                box = item.shape.bounding_box() if item.shape is not None else None
+                if box is None or box.is_empty():
+                    continue
+                net = item.net_nos[0] if item.net_nos else 0
+                for cell in self._cells_in_box(box, margin):
+                    self._pad_block.setdefault(cell, set()).add(net)
+            elif isinstance(item, ObstacleArea):
+                if item.layer != self.layer:
+                    continue
+                box = item.bounding_box()
+                if box.is_empty():
+                    continue
+                for cell in self._cells_in_box(box, self.clearance):
+                    self._keepout.add(cell)
+
+    def _blocked(self, cell: tuple[int, int], net_no: int) -> bool:
+        if cell in self._keepout:
+            return True
+        pads = self._pad_block.get(cell)
+        if pads and any(n != net_no for n in pads):
+            return True
+        trace = self._trace_block.get(cell)
+        return trace is not None and trace != net_no
+
+    # --- A* search ----------------------------------------------------------
+
+    def _search(
+        self, start: tuple[int, int], goal: tuple[int, int], net_no: int
+    ) -> list[tuple[int, int]] | None:
+        if start == goal:
+            return [start]
+        open_heap: list[tuple[float, tuple[int, int]]] = []
+        heapq.heappush(open_heap, (0.0, start))
+        came_from: dict[tuple[int, int], tuple[int, int]] = {}
+        g_score: dict[tuple[int, int], float] = {start: 0.0}
+
+        def h(cell):
+            return math.hypot(cell[0] - goal[0], cell[1] - goal[1])
+
+        while open_heap:
+            _, current = heapq.heappop(open_heap)
+            if current == goal:
+                return _reconstruct(came_from, current)
+            cx, cy = current
+            for dx, dy in _NEIGHBOURS:
+                nxt = (cx + dx, cy + dy)
+                if not (0 <= nxt[0] < self.cols and 0 <= nxt[1] < self.rows):
+                    continue
+                # the goal cell may be blocked by its own pad's net-agnostic
+                # rasterization; always allow stepping onto the goal
+                if nxt != goal and self._blocked(nxt, net_no):
+                    continue
+                step_cost = 1.0 if dx == 0 or dy == 0 else math.sqrt(2)
+                tentative = g_score[current] + step_cost
+                if tentative < g_score.get(nxt, math.inf):
+                    came_from[nxt] = current
+                    g_score[nxt] = tentative
+                    heapq.heappush(open_heap, (tentative + h(nxt), nxt))
+        return None
+
+    def _mark_trace(self, cells: list[tuple[int, int]], net_no: int) -> None:
+        for cell in cells:
+            self._trace_block[cell] = net_no
+
+    # --- public routing -----------------------------------------------------
+
+    def route(self) -> RouteResult:
+        """Route every net with >= 2 pins on this router's layer."""
+        result = RouteResult(self.half_width, self.layer)
+        pins_by_net = self._pins_by_net()
+        # route nets with fewer pins first (usually easier / shorter)
+        for net_no in sorted(pins_by_net, key=lambda n: len(pins_by_net[n])):
+            pins = pins_by_net[net_no]
+            if len(pins) < 2:
+                continue
+            for a, b in zip(pins, pins[1:], strict=False):
+                path = self._route_connection(a, b, net_no)
+                if path is not None:
+                    result.add(net_no, path)
+        return result
+
+    def _pins_by_net(self) -> dict[int, list[Pin]]:
+        by_net: dict[int, list[Pin]] = {}
+        for pin in self.board.get_pins():
+            if self.layer not in pin.layers:
+                continue
+            for net_no in pin.net_nos:
+                by_net.setdefault(net_no, []).append(pin)
+        return by_net
+
+    def _route_connection(self, a: Pin, b: Pin, net_no: int) -> list[IntPoint] | None:
+        start = self._cell_of(a.location)
+        goal = self._cell_of(b.location)
+        cells = self._search(start, goal, net_no)
+        if cells is None:
+            return None
+        self._mark_trace(cells, net_no)
+        # cell centres, with exact pad locations as the true endpoints
+        points = [a.location]
+        points.extend(self._cell_center(gx, gy) for gx, gy in cells)
+        points.append(b.location)
+        return _simplify(points)
+
+
+def _reconstruct(came_from, current):
+    path = [current]
+    while current in came_from:
+        current = came_from[current]
+        path.append(current)
+    path.reverse()
+    return path
+
+
+def _simplify(points: list[IntPoint]) -> list[IntPoint]:
+    """Drop duplicate and collinear points from a polyline."""
+    out: list[IntPoint] = []
+    for p in points:
+        if out and out[-1].x == p.x and out[-1].y == p.y:
+            continue
+        if len(out) >= 2:
+            a, b = out[-2], out[-1]
+            # collinear if cross product of (b-a) and (p-a) is zero
+            if (b.x - a.x) * (p.y - a.y) - (b.y - a.y) * (p.x - a.x) == 0:
+                out[-1] = p
+                continue
+        out.append(p)
+    return out
+
+
+def route_board(
+    board: BasicBoard, *, trace_width: int, clearance: int, layer: int = 0
+) -> RouteResult:
+    """Convenience wrapper: build a :class:`GridRouter` and route the board."""
+    router = GridRouter(board, trace_width=trace_width, clearance=clearance, layer=layer)
+    return router.route()
diff --git a/src/freeroute/route/pipeline.py b/src/freeroute/route/pipeline.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f2cff0a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/freeroute/route/pipeline.py
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+"""End-to-end routing pipeline: DSN text in, SES text out.
+
+Ties together the parser, board construction, the grid router, and the SES
+writer — the Java-free replacement for the ``freerouting.jar`` step:
+
+    dsn_text -> parse_dsn -> build_board -> route_board -> write_ses -> ses_text
+
+Router output is in board units; it is converted back to DSN units (dividing by
+the resolution) for the SES ``(wire (path ...))`` scopes.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from freeroute.board import build_board
+from freeroute.dsn import DsnBoard, parse_dsn
+from freeroute.ses import RoutedWire, RoutingResult, write_ses
+
+from .grid_router import RouteResult, route_board
+
+__all__ = ["route", "route_dsn_board", "build_routing_result"]
+
+#: fallback trace width / clearance in DSN units when the DSN has no rules
+_DEFAULT_WIDTH_DSN = 2000
+_DEFAULT_CLEARANCE_DSN = 2000
+
+
+def _rule_width_dsn(dsn: DsnBoard) -> float:
+    rules = dsn.structure_rules.width_rules
+    return rules[0].value if rules else _DEFAULT_WIDTH_DSN
+
+
+def _rule_clearance_dsn(dsn: DsnBoard) -> float:
+    for rule in dsn.structure_rules.clearance_rules:
+        if not rule.class_pairs:  # the layer-wide default clearance
+            return rule.value
+    return _DEFAULT_CLEARANCE_DSN
+
+
+def route_dsn_board(dsn: DsnBoard) -> tuple[RouteResult, int, list[str]]:
+    """Route a parsed :class:`DsnBoard`; return the board-unit result, the scale,
+    and the layer names."""
+    board = build_board(dsn)
+    scale = max(dsn.resolution.value, 1)
+    width_board = round(_rule_width_dsn(dsn) * scale)
+    clearance_board = round(_rule_clearance_dsn(dsn) * scale)
+    result = route_board(board, trace_width=width_board, clearance=clearance_board, layer=0)
+    return result, scale, [layer.name for layer in dsn.layers]
+
+
+def build_routing_result(dsn: DsnBoard) -> RoutingResult:
+    """Route ``dsn`` and convert the board-unit paths to a DSN-unit
+    :class:`~freeroute.ses.RoutingResult` for SES emission."""
+    route, scale, layer_names = route_dsn_board(dsn)
+    layer_name = layer_names[route.layer] if layer_names else "F.Cu"
+    width_dsn = _rule_width_dsn(dsn)
+    # net_number is assigned in DSN order by build_board, so index i -> number i+1
+    numbers_to_names = {i + 1: n.name for i, n in enumerate(dsn.nets)}
+
+    result = RoutingResult()
+    for net_no, paths in route.wires.items():
+        name = numbers_to_names.get(net_no, str(net_no))
+        for path in paths:
+            coords: list[float] = []
+            for point in path:
+                coords.append(point.x / scale)
+                coords.append(point.y / scale)
+            if len(coords) >= 4:
+                result.add_wire(name, RoutedWire(layer=layer_name, width=width_dsn, coords=coords))
+    return result
+
+
+def route(dsn_text: str) -> str:
+    """Route a Specctra DSN string and return the routed SES string."""
+    dsn = parse_dsn(dsn_text)
+    result = build_routing_result(dsn)
+    return write_ses(dsn, result)
diff --git a/tests/dsn/fixtures/simple_2net.dsn b/tests/dsn/fixtures/simple_2net.dsn
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6fee08c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/dsn/fixtures/simple_2net.dsn
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+(pcb "simple_2net.dsn"
+  (parser
+    (string_quote ")
+    (space_in_quoted_tokens on)
+    (host_cad "freeroute-test")
+    (host_version "1.0")
+  )
+  (resolution um 10)
+  (unit um)
+  (structure
+    (layer Top
+      (type signal)
+      (property
+        (index 0)
+      )
+    )
+    (layer Bottom
+      (type signal)
+      (property
+        (index 1)
+      )
+    )
+    (boundary
+      (path pcb 0  0 0  200000 0  200000 -80000  0 -80000  0 0)
+    )
+    (via "Via[0-1]_600:300_um")
+    (rule
+      (width 2000)
+      (clearance 2000)
+    )
+  )
+  (library
+    (padstack Rect_Pad
+      (shape (rect Top -1000 -1000 1000 1000))
+      (attach off)
+    )
+    (padstack "Via[0-1]_600:300_um"
+      (shape (circle Top 600))
+      (shape (circle Bottom 600))
+      (attach off)
+    )
+    (image PAD
+      (pin Rect_Pad 1 0 0)
+    )
+  )
+  (placement
+    (component PAD
+      (place A1 20000 -20000 front 0)
+      (place A2 180000 -20000 front 0)
+      (place B1 20000 -60000 front 0)
+      (place B2 180000 -60000 front 0)
+    )
+  )
+  (network
+    (net NET_A
+      (pins A1-1 A2-1)
+    )
+    (net NET_B
+      (pins B1-1 B2-1)
+    )
+    (class default
+      (circuit
+        (use_via "Via[0-1]_600:300_um")
+      )
+      (rule
+        (width 2000)
+        (clearance 2000)
+      )
+    )
+  )
+  (wiring
+  )
+)
diff --git a/tests/route/test_router.py b/tests/route/test_router.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..24c2139
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/route/test_router.py
@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+"""Tests for the MVP grid maze router and the DSN -> SES pipeline.
+
+Fast tests assert the routing invariants (traces connect their pads, stay on a
+valid layer, stay in bounds). An oracle-gated test checks connectivity parity
+against the reference FreeRouting JAR on the simple board.
+
+Fixtures: ``tests/dsn/fixtures/simple_2net.dsn`` (guaranteed routable).
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+import sys
+
+import pytest
+
+from freeroute.board import build_board
+from freeroute.dsn import parse_dsn
+from freeroute.dsn.sexp import parse
+from freeroute.route import route, route_dsn_board
+
+sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent))
+
+FIXTURES = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "dsn" / "fixtures"
+SIMPLE = FIXTURES / "simple_2net.dsn"
+
+
+def _net_out(ses_text: str):
+    root = parse(ses_text)
+    routes = root.child("routes")
+    network = routes.child("network_out")
+    return {n.values()[0].text: n.children("wire") for n in network.children("net")}
+
+
+def _wire_paths(wire):
+    path = wire.child("path")
+    vals = [v.text for v in path.values()]
+    layer = vals[0]
+    nums = [float(v) for v in vals[2:]]
+    coords = list(zip(nums[0::2], nums[1::2], strict=False))
+    return layer, coords
+
+
+# --- connectivity -----------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_simple_board_routes_both_nets():
+    result, scale, layers = route_dsn_board(parse_dsn(SIMPLE.read_text()))
+    assert result.routed_net_numbers == {1, 2}  # NET_A, NET_B
+
+
+def test_pipeline_emits_valid_ses_with_both_nets():
+    ses = route(SIMPLE.read_text())
+    top = parse(ses)  # must be a single balanced S-expression
+    assert top.head == "session"
+    nets = _net_out(ses)
+    assert set(nets) == {"NET_A", "NET_B"}
+    assert all(wires for wires in nets.values())  # each net has >= 1 wire
+
+
+# --- invariants -------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_traces_stay_on_a_valid_layer():
+    ses = route(SIMPLE.read_text())
+    layer_names = {"Top", "Bottom"}
+    for wires in _net_out(ses).values():
+        for wire in wires:
+            layer, _ = _wire_paths(wire)
+            assert layer in layer_names
+
+
+def test_trace_endpoints_sit_on_the_net_pads():
+    # DSN pad locations per net (component place coords; pin offset is 0,0)
+    pads = {
+        "NET_A": {(20000.0, -20000.0), (180000.0, -20000.0)},
+        "NET_B": {(20000.0, -60000.0), (180000.0, -60000.0)},
+    }
+    ses = route(SIMPLE.read_text())
+    for net_name, wires in _net_out(ses).items():
+        endpoints = set()
+        for wire in wires:
+            _, coords = _wire_paths(wire)
+            assert len(coords) >= 2, "a trace needs at least two points"
+            endpoints.add(coords[0])
+            endpoints.add(coords[-1])
+        # every trace endpoint is one of the net's pads
+        assert endpoints <= pads[net_name]
+        # both pads of the net are touched
+        assert endpoints == pads[net_name]
+
+
+def test_traces_stay_within_the_board_outline():
+    ses = route(SIMPLE.read_text())
+    # simple_2net boundary: x in [0, 200000], y in [-80000, 0]
+    for wires in _net_out(ses).values():
+        for wire in wires:
+            _, coords = _wire_paths(wire)
+            for x, y in coords:
+                assert 0 <= x <= 200000
+                assert -80000 <= y <= 0
+
+
+def test_every_routed_net_joins_its_pin_pair():
+    # a routed net's trace path must actually connect its two pins in board units
+    result, scale, _ = route_dsn_board(parse_dsn(SIMPLE.read_text()))
+    board = build_board(parse_dsn(SIMPLE.read_text()))
+    pins_by_net: dict[int, set[tuple[int, int]]] = {}
+    for pin in board.get_pins():
+        for net_no in pin.net_nos:
+            pins_by_net.setdefault(net_no, set()).add((pin.location.x, pin.location.y))
+    for net_no, paths in result.wires.items():
+        touched = set()
+        for path in paths:
+            touched.add((path[0].x, path[0].y))
+            touched.add((path[-1].x, path[-1].y))
+        assert touched == pins_by_net[net_no]
+
+
+# --- robustness -------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_router_does_not_crash_on_larger_board():
+    # the real KiCad board is dense; the router must complete without error and
+    # route at least some nets (full coverage is a later, multi-layer concern).
+    result, _, _ = route_dsn_board(parse_dsn((FIXTURES / "kicad_routable.dsn").read_text()))
+    assert isinstance(result.routed_net_numbers, set)
+
+
+# --- oracle parity ----------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+@pytest.mark.oracle
+def test_connectivity_parity_with_oracle_on_simple_board():
+    from oracle import HAS_ORACLE, route_dsn, routed_net_set
+
+    if not HAS_ORACLE:
+        pytest.skip("FreeRouting oracle unavailable")
+    our_ses = route(SIMPLE.read_text())
+    our_nets = routed_net_set(our_ses)
+    oracle_ses = route_dsn(SIMPLE, max_passes=3, timeout=300)
+    oracle_nets = routed_net_set(oracle_ses)
+    assert oracle_nets, "oracle routed nothing on a routable board"
+    # connectivity parity: freeroute connects every net the reference connects
+    assert oracle_nets <= our_nets