diff --git a/src/lfx/src/lfx/execution/executor.py b/src/lfx/src/lfx/execution/executor.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1546c1cf51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lfx/src/lfx/execution/executor.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+"""Executor abstract base class."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, ClassVar
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from collections.abc import AsyncIterator
+
+    from lfx.execution.types import RunComplete, StepResult, Unit
+
+
+class Executor(ABC):
+    kind: ClassVar[str]
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def execute(self, unit: Unit) -> AsyncIterator[StepResult | RunComplete]:
+        """Yield StepResult items, end with a RunComplete."""
diff --git a/src/lfx/tests/unit/execution/test_executor.py b/src/lfx/tests/unit/execution/test_executor.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3d226e8f01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lfx/tests/unit/execution/test_executor.py
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+import pytest
+from lfx.execution.executor import Executor
+from lfx.execution.types import RunComplete, StepResult, Unit
+
+
+def test_executor_is_abstract():
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError, match="abstract"):
+        Executor()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_concrete_executor_yields_steps_then_run_complete():
+    class Toy(Executor):
+        kind = "toy"
+
+        async def execute(self, unit):  # noqa: ARG002
+            yield StepResult(payload={"vertex_id": "a"})
+            yield StepResult(payload={"vertex_id": "b"})
+            yield RunComplete(outputs=["done"])
+
+    items = [item async for item in Toy().execute(Unit(graph=object(), inputs=[]))]
+    assert len(items) == 3
+    assert isinstance(items[-1], RunComplete)
+    assert items[-1].outputs == ["done"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_executor_must_yield_run_complete_last():
+    class Toy(Executor):
+        kind = "toy"
+
+        async def execute(self, unit):  # noqa: ARG002
+            yield StepResult(payload={})
+            yield RunComplete(outputs=[])
+
+    items = [item async for item in Toy().execute(Unit(graph=object(), inputs=[]))]
+    assert isinstance(items[-1], RunComplete)