diff --git a/ami/jobs/apps.py b/ami/jobs/apps.py
index 6c222128f..fc96ad525 100644
--- a/ami/jobs/apps.py
+++ b/ami/jobs/apps.py
@@ -2,6 +2,6 @@
 from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _
 
 
-class UsersConfig(AppConfig):
+class JobsConfig(AppConfig):
     name = "ami.jobs"
     verbose_name = _("Jobs")
diff --git a/ami/jobs/models.py b/ami/jobs/models.py
index eab3b0b13..c5853689d 100644
--- a/ami/jobs/models.py
+++ b/ami/jobs/models.py
@@ -399,10 +399,9 @@ def run(cls, job: "Job"):
         total_detections = 0
         total_classifications = 0
 
-        # Set to low size because our response JSON just got enormous
-        # @TODO make this configurable
-        CHUNK_SIZE = 1
-        chunks = [images[i : i + CHUNK_SIZE] for i in range(0, image_count, CHUNK_SIZE)]  # noqa
+        config = job.pipeline.get_config(project_id=job.project.pk)
+        chunk_size = config.get("request_source_image_batch_size", 1)
+        chunks = [images[i : i + chunk_size] for i in range(0, image_count, chunk_size)]  # noqa
         request_failed_images = []
 
         for i, chunk in enumerate(chunks):
@@ -434,9 +433,9 @@ def run(cls, job: "Job"):
                 "process",
                 status=JobState.STARTED,
                 progress=(i + 1) / len(chunks),
-                processed=min((i + 1) * CHUNK_SIZE, image_count),
+                processed=min((i + 1) * chunk_size, image_count),
                 failed=len(request_failed_images),
-                remaining=max(image_count - ((i + 1) * CHUNK_SIZE), 0),
+                remaining=max(image_count - ((i + 1) * chunk_size), 0),
             )
 
             # count the completed, successful, and failed save_tasks:
diff --git a/ami/labelstudio/apps.py b/ami/labelstudio/apps.py
index ba5c95752..46e943844 100644
--- a/ami/labelstudio/apps.py
+++ b/ami/labelstudio/apps.py
@@ -2,6 +2,6 @@
 from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _
 
 
-class UsersConfig(AppConfig):
+class LabelStudioConfig(AppConfig):
     name = "ami.labelstudio"
     verbose_name = _("Label Studio Integration")
diff --git a/ami/ml/apps.py b/ami/ml/apps.py
index fc64a2439..6b6752c1c 100644
--- a/ami/ml/apps.py
+++ b/ami/ml/apps.py
@@ -2,6 +2,6 @@
 from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _
 
 
-class UsersConfig(AppConfig):
+class MLConfig(AppConfig):
     name = "ami.ml"
     verbose_name = _("Machine Learning")
diff --git a/ami/ml/migrations/0021_pipeline_default_config.py b/ami/ml/migrations/0021_pipeline_default_config.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5258a4006
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ami/ml/migrations/0021_pipeline_default_config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# Generated by Django 4.2.10 on 2025-03-19 16:27
+
+import ami.ml.schemas
+from django.db import migrations
+import django_pydantic_field.fields
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+    dependencies = [
+        ("ml", "0020_projectpipelineconfig_alter_pipeline_projects"),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name="pipeline",
+            name="default_config",
+            field=django_pydantic_field.fields.PydanticSchemaField(
+                config=None,
+                default=dict,
+                help_text="The default configuration for the pipeline. Used by both the job sending images to the pipeline and the processing service.",
+                schema=ami.ml.schemas.PipelineRequestConfigParameters,
+            ),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/ami/ml/models/pipeline.py b/ami/ml/models/pipeline.py
index b8202d776..7ce09b134 100644
--- a/ami/ml/models/pipeline.py
+++ b/ami/ml/models/pipeline.py
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from ami.ml.models import ProcessingService  # , ProjectPipelineConfig
+    from ami.ml.models import ProcessingService, ProjectPipelineConfig
+    from ami.jobs.models import Job
 
 import collections
 import dataclasses
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@
     ClassificationResponse,
     DetectionResponse,
     PipelineRequest,
+    PipelineRequestConfigParameters,
     PipelineResultsResponse,
     SourceImageRequest,
     SourceImageResponse,
@@ -98,7 +100,7 @@ def filter_processed_images(
                 )
                 # log all algorithms that are in the pipeline but not in the detection
                 missing_algos = pipeline_algorithm_ids - detection_algorithm_ids
-                task_logger.info(f"Image #{image.pk} needs classification by pipeline's algorithms: {missing_algos}")
+                task_logger.debug(f"Image #{image.pk} needs classification by pipeline's algorithms: {missing_algos}")
                 yield image
             else:
                 # If all detections have been classified by the pipeline, skip the image
@@ -162,9 +164,6 @@ def process_images(
 ) -> PipelineResultsResponse:
     """
     Process images using ML pipeline API.
-
-    @TODO find a home for this function.
-    @TODO break into task chunks.
     """
     job = None
     task_logger = logger
@@ -201,29 +200,11 @@ def process_images(
         if url
     ]
 
-    if project_id:
-        try:
-            config = pipeline.project_pipeline_configs.get(project_id=project_id).config
-            task_logger.info(
-                f"Sending pipeline request using {config} from the project-pipeline config "
-                f"for Pipeline {pipeline} and Project id {project_id}."
-            )
-        except pipeline.project_pipeline_configs.model.DoesNotExist as e:
-            task_logger.error(
-                f"Error getting the project-pipeline config for Pipeline {pipeline} "
-                f"and Project id {project_id}: {e}"
-            )
-            config = {}
-            task_logger.info(
-                "Using empty config when sending pipeline request since no project-pipeline config "
-                f"was found for Pipeline {pipeline} and Project id {project_id}"
-            )
-    else:
-        config = {}
-        task_logger.info(
-            "Using empty config when sending pipeline request "
-            f"since no project id was provided for Pipeline {pipeline}"
-        )
+    if not project_id:
+        task_logger.warning(f"Pipeline {pipeline} is not associated with a project")
+
+    config = pipeline.get_config(project_id=project_id)
+    task_logger.info(f"Using pipeline config: {config}")
 
     request_data = PipelineRequest(
         pipeline=pipeline.slug,
@@ -914,7 +895,7 @@ class Pipeline(BaseModel):
     description = models.TextField(blank=True)
     version = models.IntegerField(default=1)
     version_name = models.CharField(max_length=255, blank=True)
-    # @TODO the algorithms list be retrieved by querying the pipeline endpoint
+    # @TODO the algorithms attribute is not currently used. Review for removal.
     algorithms = models.ManyToManyField("ml.Algorithm", related_name="pipelines")
     stages: list[PipelineStage] = SchemaField(
         default=default_stages,
@@ -926,8 +907,18 @@ class Pipeline(BaseModel):
     projects = models.ManyToManyField(
         "main.Project", related_name="pipelines", blank=True, through="ml.ProjectPipelineConfig"
     )
+    default_config: PipelineRequestConfigParameters = SchemaField(
+        schema=PipelineRequestConfigParameters,
+        default=dict,
+        help_text=(
+            "The default configuration for the pipeline. "
+            "Used by both the job sending images to the pipeline "
+            "and the processing service."
+        ),
+    )
     processing_services: models.QuerySet[ProcessingService]
-    # project_pipeline_configs: models.QuerySet[ProjectPipelineConfig]
+    project_pipeline_configs: models.QuerySet[ProjectPipelineConfig]
+    jobs: models.QuerySet[Job]
 
     class Meta:
         ordering = ["name", "version"]
@@ -939,6 +930,26 @@ class Meta:
     def __str__(self):
         return f'#{self.pk} "{self.name}" ({self.slug}) v{self.version}'
 
+    def get_config(self, project_id: int | None = None) -> PipelineRequestConfigParameters:
+        """
+        Get the configuration for the pipeline request.
+
+        This will be the same as pipeline.default_config, but if a project ID is provided,
+        the project's pipeline config will be used to override the default config.
+        """
+        config = self.default_config
+        if project_id:
+            try:
+                project_pipeline_config = self.project_pipeline_configs.get(project_id=project_id)
+                if project_pipeline_config.config:
+                    config.update(project_pipeline_config.config)
+                logger.debug(
+                    f"Using ProjectPipelineConfig for Pipeline {self} and Project #{project_id}:" f"config: {config}"
+                )
+            except self.project_pipeline_configs.model.DoesNotExist as e:
+                logger.warning(f"No project-pipeline config for Pipeline {self} " f"and Project #{project_id}: {e}")
+        return config
+
     def collect_images(
         self,
         collection: SourceImageCollection | None = None,
diff --git a/ami/ml/models/processing_service.py b/ami/ml/models/processing_service.py
index 26684652f..d6a1bd0e5 100644
--- a/ami/ml/models/processing_service.py
+++ b/ami/ml/models/processing_service.py
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ def create_pipelines(self):
             algorithms_created=algorithms_created,
         )
 
-    def get_status(self):
+    def get_status(self, timeout=6):
         """
         Check the status of the processing service.
         This is a simple health check that pings the /readyz endpoint of the service.
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ def get_status(self):
         resp = None
 
         try:
-            resp = requests.get(ready_check_url)
+            resp = requests.get(ready_check_url, timeout=timeout)
             resp.raise_for_status()
             self.last_checked_live = True
             latency = time.time() - start_time
@@ -158,13 +158,13 @@ def get_status(self):
 
         return response
 
-    def get_pipeline_configs(self):
+    def get_pipeline_configs(self, timeout=6):
         """
         Get the pipeline configurations from the processing service.
         This can be a long response as it includes the full category map for each algorithm.
         """
         info_url = urljoin(self.endpoint_url, "info")
-        resp = requests.get(info_url)
+        resp = requests.get(info_url, timeout=timeout)
         resp.raise_for_status()
         info_data = ProcessingServiceInfoResponse.parse_obj(resp.json())
         return info_data.pipelines
diff --git a/ami/ml/schemas.py b/ami/ml/schemas.py
index 64172a56f..4a653d970 100644
--- a/ami/ml/schemas.py
+++ b/ami/ml/schemas.py
@@ -144,10 +144,29 @@ class Config:
 ]
 
 
+class PipelineRequestConfigParameters(dict):
+    """Parameters used to configure a pipeline request.
+
+    Accepts any serializable key-value pair.
+    Example: {"force_reprocess": True, "auth_token": "abc123"}
+
+    Supported parameters are defined by the pipeline in the processing service
+    and should be published in the Pipeline's info response.
+
+    Parameters that are used by Antenna before sending the request to the Processing Service
+    should be prefixed with "request_".
+    Example: {"request_source_image_batch_size": 8}
+    Such parameters need to be ignored by the schema in the Processing Service, or
+    removed before sending the request to the Processing Service.
+    """
+
+    pass
+
+
 class PipelineRequest(pydantic.BaseModel):
     pipeline: str
     source_images: list[SourceImageRequest]
-    config: dict
+    config: PipelineRequestConfigParameters | dict | None = None
 
 
 class PipelineResultsResponse(pydantic.BaseModel):
diff --git a/ami/ml/tests.py b/ami/ml/tests.py
index d48e0c3ae..566f489ce 100644
--- a/ami/ml/tests.py
+++ b/ami/ml/tests.py
@@ -574,6 +574,30 @@ def test_yes_reprocess_if_new_terminal_algorithm_same_intermediate(self):
         remaining_images_to_process = len(images_again)
         self.assertEqual(remaining_images_to_process, len(images), "Images not re-processed with new pipeline")
 
+    def test_project_pipeline_config(self):
+        """
+        Test the default_config for a pipeline, as well as the project pipeline config.
+        Ensure the project pipeline parameters override the pipeline defaults.
+        """
+        from ami.ml.models import ProjectPipelineConfig
+        from ami.ml.schemas import PipelineRequestConfigParameters
+
+        # Add config to the pipeline & project
+        self.pipeline.default_config = PipelineRequestConfigParameters({"test_param": "test_value"})
+        self.pipeline.save()
+        self.project_pipeline_config = ProjectPipelineConfig.objects.create(
+            project=self.project,
+            pipeline=self.pipeline,
+            config={"test_param": "project_value"},
+        )
+        self.project_pipeline_config.save()
+
+        # Check the final config
+        default_config = self.pipeline.get_config()
+        self.assertEqual(default_config["test_param"], "test_value")
+        final_config = self.pipeline.get_config(self.project.pk)
+        self.assertEqual(final_config["test_param"], "project_value")
+
 
 class TestAlgorithmCategoryMaps(TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
diff --git a/processing_services/example/api/schemas.py b/processing_services/example/api/schemas.py
index def01730a..d64690432 100644
--- a/processing_services/example/api/schemas.py
+++ b/processing_services/example/api/schemas.py
@@ -187,10 +187,30 @@ class Config:
 PipelineChoice = typing.Literal["random", "constant"]
 
 
+class PipelineRequestConfigParameters(pydantic.BaseModel):
+    """Parameters used to configure a pipeline request.
+
+    Accepts any serializable key-value pair.
+    Example: {"force_reprocess": True, "auth_token": "abc123"}
+
+    Supported parameters are defined by the pipeline in the processing service
+    and should be published in the Pipeline's info response.
+    """
+
+    force_reprocess: bool = pydantic.Field(
+        default=False,
+        description="Force reprocessing of the image, even if it has already been processed.",
+    )
+    auth_token: str | None = pydantic.Field(
+        default=None,
+        description="An optional authentication token to use for the pipeline.",
+    )
+
+
 class PipelineRequest(pydantic.BaseModel):
     pipeline: PipelineChoice
     source_images: list[SourceImageRequest]
-    config: dict
+    config: PipelineRequestConfigParameters | dict | None = None
 
     # Example for API docs:
     class Config:
@@ -203,6 +223,7 @@ class Config:
                         "url": "https://archive.org/download/mma_various_moths_and_butterflies_54143/54143.jpg",
                     }
                 ],
+                "config": {"force_reprocess": True, "auth_token": "abc123"},
             }
         }