diff --git a/src/app/(admin)/admin/rounds/pipeline/[id]/edit/page.tsx b/src/app/(admin)/admin/rounds/pipeline/[id]/edit/page.tsx
index 9bd33e4..ceb5cf5 100644
--- a/src/app/(admin)/admin/rounds/pipeline/[id]/edit/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(admin)/admin/rounds/pipeline/[id]/edit/page.tsx
@@ -187,10 +187,10 @@ export default function EditPipelinePage() {
   const evalStage = mainTrack?.stages.find((s) => s.stageType === 'EVALUATION')
   const liveStage = mainTrack?.stages.find((s) => s.stageType === 'LIVE_FINAL')
 
-  const intakeConfig = (intakeStage?.configJson ?? defaultIntakeConfig()) as unknown as IntakeConfig
-  const filterConfig = (filterStage?.configJson ?? defaultFilterConfig()) as unknown as FilterConfig
-  const evalConfig = (evalStage?.configJson ?? defaultEvaluationConfig()) as unknown as EvaluationConfig
-  const liveConfig = (liveStage?.configJson ?? defaultLiveConfig()) as unknown as LiveFinalConfig
+  const intakeConfig = { ...defaultIntakeConfig(), ...(intakeStage?.configJson ?? {}) } as IntakeConfig
+  const filterConfig = { ...defaultFilterConfig(), ...(filterStage?.configJson ?? {}) } as FilterConfig
+  const evalConfig = { ...defaultEvaluationConfig(), ...(evalStage?.configJson ?? {}) } as EvaluationConfig
+  const liveConfig = { ...defaultLiveConfig(), ...(liveStage?.configJson ?? {}) } as LiveFinalConfig
 
   const basicsValid = validateBasics(state).valid
   const tracksValid = validateTracks(state.tracks).valid
diff --git a/src/components/admin/pipeline/sections/assignment-section.tsx b/src/components/admin/pipeline/sections/assignment-section.tsx
index e2b4c83..af68014 100644
--- a/src/components/admin/pipeline/sections/assignment-section.tsx
+++ b/src/components/admin/pipeline/sections/assignment-section.tsx
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ export function AssignmentSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: AssignmentSect
             type="number"
             min={1}
             max={20}
-            value={config.requiredReviews}
+            value={config.requiredReviews ?? 3}
             disabled={isActive}
             onChange={(e) =>
               updateConfig({ requiredReviews: parseInt(e.target.value) || 3 })
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ export function AssignmentSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: AssignmentSect
             type="number"
             min={1}
             max={100}
-            value={config.maxLoadPerJuror}
+            value={config.maxLoadPerJuror ?? 20}
             disabled={isActive}
             onChange={(e) =>
               updateConfig({ maxLoadPerJuror: parseInt(e.target.value) || 20 })
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ export function AssignmentSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: AssignmentSect
             type="number"
             min={0}
             max={50}
-            value={config.minLoadPerJuror}
+            value={config.minLoadPerJuror ?? 5}
             disabled={isActive}
             onChange={(e) =>
               updateConfig({ minLoadPerJuror: parseInt(e.target.value) || 5 })
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ export function AssignmentSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: AssignmentSect
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      {config.minLoadPerJuror > config.maxLoadPerJuror && (
+      {(config.minLoadPerJuror ?? 0) > (config.maxLoadPerJuror ?? 20) && (
         <p className="text-sm text-destructive">
           Min load per juror cannot exceed max load per juror.
         </p>
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ export function AssignmentSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: AssignmentSect
           </p>
         </div>
         <Switch
-          checked={config.availabilityWeighting}
+          checked={config.availabilityWeighting ?? true}
           onCheckedChange={(checked) =>
             updateConfig({ availabilityWeighting: checked })
           }
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ export function AssignmentSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: AssignmentSect
       <div className="space-y-2">
         <Label>Overflow Policy</Label>
         <Select
-          value={config.overflowPolicy}
+          value={config.overflowPolicy ?? 'queue'}
           onValueChange={(value) =>
             updateConfig({
               overflowPolicy: value as EvaluationConfig['overflowPolicy'],
diff --git a/src/components/admin/pipeline/sections/filtering-section.tsx b/src/components/admin/pipeline/sections/filtering-section.tsx
index b9cc124..f7b77f5 100644
--- a/src/components/admin/pipeline/sections/filtering-section.tsx
+++ b/src/components/admin/pipeline/sections/filtering-section.tsx
@@ -27,8 +27,10 @@ export function FilteringSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: FilteringSectio
     onChange({ ...config, ...updates })
   }
 
+  const rules = config.rules ?? []
+
   const updateRule = (index: number, updates: Partial<FilterRuleConfig>) => {
-    const updated = [...config.rules]
+    const updated = [...rules]
     updated[index] = { ...updated[index], ...updates }
     onChange({ ...config, rules: updated })
   }
@@ -37,14 +39,14 @@ export function FilteringSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: FilteringSectio
     onChange({
       ...config,
       rules: [
-        ...config.rules,
+        ...rules,
         { field: '', operator: 'equals', value: '', weight: 1 },
       ],
     })
   }
 
   const removeRule = (index: number) => {
-    onChange({ ...config, rules: config.rules.filter((_, i) => i !== index) })
+    onChange({ ...config, rules: rules.filter((_, i) => i !== index) })
   }
 
   return (
@@ -64,7 +66,7 @@ export function FilteringSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: FilteringSectio
           </Button>
         </div>
 
-        {config.rules.map((rule, index) => (
+        {rules.map((rule, index) => (
           <Card key={index}>
             <CardContent className="pt-3 pb-3 px-4">
               <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
@@ -116,7 +118,7 @@ export function FilteringSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: FilteringSectio
           </Card>
         ))}
 
-        {config.rules.length === 0 && (
+        {rules.length === 0 && (
           <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground text-center py-3">
             No gate rules configured. All projects will pass through.
           </p>
@@ -145,11 +147,11 @@ export function FilteringSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: FilteringSectio
               <Label className="text-xs">High Confidence Threshold</Label>
               <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
                 <Slider
-                  value={[config.aiConfidenceThresholds.high * 100]}
+                  value={[(config.aiConfidenceThresholds?.high ?? 0.85) * 100]}
                   onValueChange={([v]) =>
                     updateConfig({
                       aiConfidenceThresholds: {
-                        ...config.aiConfidenceThresholds,
+                        ...(config.aiConfidenceThresholds ?? { high: 0.85, medium: 0.6, low: 0.4 }),
                         high: v / 100,
                       },
                     })
@@ -160,7 +162,7 @@ export function FilteringSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: FilteringSectio
                   className="flex-1"
                 />
                 <span className="text-xs font-mono w-10 text-right">
-                  {Math.round(config.aiConfidenceThresholds.high * 100)}%
+                  {Math.round((config.aiConfidenceThresholds?.high ?? 0.85) * 100)}%
                 </span>
               </div>
             </div>
@@ -168,11 +170,11 @@ export function FilteringSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: FilteringSectio
               <Label className="text-xs">Medium Confidence Threshold</Label>
               <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
                 <Slider
-                  value={[config.aiConfidenceThresholds.medium * 100]}
+                  value={[(config.aiConfidenceThresholds?.medium ?? 0.6) * 100]}
                   onValueChange={([v]) =>
                     updateConfig({
                       aiConfidenceThresholds: {
-                        ...config.aiConfidenceThresholds,
+                        ...(config.aiConfidenceThresholds ?? { high: 0.85, medium: 0.6, low: 0.4 }),
                         medium: v / 100,
                       },
                     })
@@ -183,7 +185,7 @@ export function FilteringSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: FilteringSectio
                   className="flex-1"
                 />
                 <span className="text-xs font-mono w-10 text-right">
-                  {Math.round(config.aiConfidenceThresholds.medium * 100)}%
+                  {Math.round((config.aiConfidenceThresholds?.medium ?? 0.6) * 100)}%
                 </span>
               </div>
             </div>
diff --git a/src/components/admin/pipeline/sections/intake-section.tsx b/src/components/admin/pipeline/sections/intake-section.tsx
index b28c137..e3ad915 100644
--- a/src/components/admin/pipeline/sections/intake-section.tsx
+++ b/src/components/admin/pipeline/sections/intake-section.tsx
@@ -26,8 +26,10 @@ export function IntakeSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: IntakeSectionProps
     onChange({ ...config, ...updates })
   }
 
+  const fileRequirements = config.fileRequirements ?? []
+
   const updateFileReq = (index: number, updates: Partial<FileRequirementConfig>) => {
-    const updated = [...config.fileRequirements]
+    const updated = [...fileRequirements]
     updated[index] = { ...updated[index], ...updates }
     onChange({ ...config, fileRequirements: updated })
   }
@@ -36,7 +38,7 @@ export function IntakeSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: IntakeSectionProps
     onChange({
       ...config,
       fileRequirements: [
-        ...config.fileRequirements,
+        ...fileRequirements,
         {
           name: '',
           description: '',
@@ -49,7 +51,7 @@ export function IntakeSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: IntakeSectionProps
   }
 
   const removeFileReq = (index: number) => {
-    const updated = config.fileRequirements.filter((_, i) => i !== index)
+    const updated = fileRequirements.filter((_, i) => i !== index)
     onChange({ ...config, fileRequirements: updated })
   }
 
@@ -71,7 +73,7 @@ export function IntakeSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: IntakeSectionProps
             </p>
           </div>
           <Switch
-            checked={config.submissionWindowEnabled}
+            checked={config.submissionWindowEnabled ?? true}
             onCheckedChange={(checked) =>
               updateConfig({ submissionWindowEnabled: checked })
             }
@@ -85,7 +87,7 @@ export function IntakeSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: IntakeSectionProps
         <div className="space-y-2">
           <Label>Late Submission Policy</Label>
           <Select
-            value={config.lateSubmissionPolicy}
+            value={config.lateSubmissionPolicy ?? 'flag'}
             onValueChange={(value) =>
               updateConfig({
                 lateSubmissionPolicy: value as IntakeConfig['lateSubmissionPolicy'],
@@ -104,14 +106,14 @@ export function IntakeSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: IntakeSectionProps
           </Select>
         </div>
 
-        {config.lateSubmissionPolicy === 'flag' && (
+        {(config.lateSubmissionPolicy ?? 'flag') === 'flag' && (
           <div className="space-y-2">
             <Label>Grace Period (hours)</Label>
             <Input
               type="number"
               min={0}
               max={168}
-              value={config.lateGraceHours}
+              value={config.lateGraceHours ?? 24}
               onChange={(e) =>
                 updateConfig({ lateGraceHours: parseInt(e.target.value) || 0 })
               }
@@ -130,13 +132,13 @@ export function IntakeSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: IntakeSectionProps
           </Button>
         </div>
 
-        {config.fileRequirements.length === 0 && (
+        {fileRequirements.length === 0 && (
           <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground py-4 text-center">
             No file requirements configured. Projects can be submitted without files.
           </p>
         )}
 
-        {config.fileRequirements.map((req, index) => (
+        {fileRequirements.map((req, index) => (
           <Card key={index}>
             <CardContent className="pt-4 space-y-3">
               <div className="flex items-start gap-3">
diff --git a/src/components/admin/pipeline/sections/live-finals-section.tsx b/src/components/admin/pipeline/sections/live-finals-section.tsx
index ae8ecba..7f14057 100644
--- a/src/components/admin/pipeline/sections/live-finals-section.tsx
+++ b/src/components/admin/pipeline/sections/live-finals-section.tsx
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ export function LiveFinalsSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: LiveFinalsSect
           </p>
         </div>
         <Switch
-          checked={config.juryVotingEnabled}
+          checked={config.juryVotingEnabled ?? true}
           onCheckedChange={(checked) =>
             updateConfig({ juryVotingEnabled: checked })
           }
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ export function LiveFinalsSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: LiveFinalsSect
             </p>
           </div>
           <Switch
-            checked={config.audienceVotingEnabled}
+            checked={config.audienceVotingEnabled ?? false}
             onCheckedChange={(checked) =>
               updateConfig({ audienceVotingEnabled: checked })
             }
@@ -58,13 +58,13 @@ export function LiveFinalsSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: LiveFinalsSect
           />
         </div>
 
-        {config.audienceVotingEnabled && (
+        {(config.audienceVotingEnabled ?? false) && (
           <div className="pl-4 border-l-2 border-muted space-y-3">
             <div className="space-y-2">
               <Label className="text-xs">Audience Vote Weight</Label>
               <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
                 <Slider
-                  value={[config.audienceVoteWeight * 100]}
+                  value={[(config.audienceVoteWeight ?? 0) * 100]}
                   onValueChange={([v]) =>
                     updateConfig({ audienceVoteWeight: v / 100 })
                   }
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ export function LiveFinalsSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: LiveFinalsSect
                   className="flex-1"
                 />
                 <span className="text-xs font-mono w-10 text-right">
-                  {Math.round(config.audienceVoteWeight * 100)}%
+                  {Math.round((config.audienceVoteWeight ?? 0) * 100)}%
                 </span>
               </div>
               <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ export function LiveFinalsSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: LiveFinalsSect
       <div className="space-y-2">
         <Label>Cohort Setup Mode</Label>
         <Select
-          value={config.cohortSetupMode}
+          value={config.cohortSetupMode ?? 'manual'}
           onValueChange={(value) =>
             updateConfig({
               cohortSetupMode: value as LiveFinalConfig['cohortSetupMode'],
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ export function LiveFinalsSection({ config, onChange, isActive }: LiveFinalsSect
       <div className="space-y-2">
         <Label>Result Reveal Policy</Label>
         <Select
-          value={config.revealPolicy}
+          value={config.revealPolicy ?? 'ceremony'}
           onValueChange={(value) =>
             updateConfig({
               revealPolicy: value as LiveFinalConfig['revealPolicy'],