diff --git a/nemo_run/core/execution/slurm.py b/nemo_run/core/execution/slurm.py
index 2b52d292..2a794e30 100644
--- a/nemo_run/core/execution/slurm.py
+++ b/nemo_run/core/execution/slurm.py
@@ -346,6 +346,9 @@ class ResourceRequest:
     network: Optional[str] = None
     #: Template name to use for Ray jobs (e.g., "ray.sub.j2" or "ray_enroot.sub.j2")
     ray_template: str = "ray.sub.j2"
+    #: When True, a background thread polls squeue --start while the job is pending
+    #: and prints the estimated start time. Set to False to disable this behaviour.
+    poll_estimated_start_time: bool = True
 
     #: Set by the executor; cannot be initialized
     job_name: str = field(init=False, default="nemo-job")
diff --git a/nemo_run/run/torchx_backend/schedulers/slurm.py b/nemo_run/run/torchx_backend/schedulers/slurm.py
index 912bca43..9af9483a 100644
--- a/nemo_run/run/torchx_backend/schedulers/slurm.py
+++ b/nemo_run/run/torchx_backend/schedulers/slurm.py
@@ -257,21 +257,22 @@ def schedule(self, dryrun_info: AppDryRunInfo[SlurmBatchRequest | SlurmRayReques
         # Save metadata
         _save_job_dir(job_id, job_dir, tunnel, slurm_executor.job_details.ls_term)
 
-        # Stop any existing polling thread for this job_id (retry scenario)
-        if job_id in self._start_time_stop_events:
-            self._start_time_stop_events.pop(job_id).set()
-            self._start_time_threads.pop(job_id, None)
-
-        stop_event = threading.Event()
-        self._start_time_stop_events[job_id] = stop_event
-        thread = threading.Thread(
-            target=self._poll_job_start_time,
-            args=(job_id, self.tunnel, stop_event),
-            daemon=True,
-            name=f"slurm-start-time-{job_id}",
-        )
-        self._start_time_threads[job_id] = thread
-        thread.start()
+        if slurm_executor.poll_estimated_start_time:
+            # Stop any existing polling thread for this job_id (retry scenario)
+            if job_id in self._start_time_stop_events:
+                self._start_time_stop_events.pop(job_id).set()
+                self._start_time_threads.pop(job_id, None)
+
+            stop_event = threading.Event()
+            self._start_time_stop_events[job_id] = stop_event
+            thread = threading.Thread(
+                target=self._poll_job_start_time,
+                args=(job_id, self.tunnel, stop_event),
+                daemon=True,
+                name=f"slurm-start-time-{job_id}",
+            )
+            self._start_time_threads[job_id] = thread
+            thread.start()
 
         return job_id
 
diff --git a/test/run/torchx_backend/schedulers/test_slurm.py b/test/run/torchx_backend/schedulers/test_slurm.py
index 3e99a93f..857d7a66 100644
--- a/test/run/torchx_backend/schedulers/test_slurm.py
+++ b/test/run/torchx_backend/schedulers/test_slurm.py
@@ -942,3 +942,29 @@ def test_cancel_stops_polling_thread_for_job(slurm_scheduler, mocker):
 
     assert ev.is_set()
     assert job_id not in slurm_scheduler._start_time_stop_events
+
+
+def test_schedule_skips_polling_thread_when_disabled(slurm_scheduler, mocker):
+    """When poll_estimated_start_time=False on the executor, no thread is started."""
+    job_id = "88888"
+    dryrun_info = mock.MagicMock()
+    dryrun_info.request.executor.poll_estimated_start_time = False
+    dryrun_info.request.executor.job_dir = "/tmp/test"
+    dryrun_info.request.executor.tunnel = mock.MagicMock()
+    dryrun_info.request.executor.dependencies = []
+    dryrun_info.request.executor.job_name = "test-job"
+    dryrun_info.request.executor.job_details.ls_term = ""
+
+    mock_tunnel = mock.MagicMock()
+    mock_tunnel.run.return_value.stdout = job_id
+    slurm_scheduler.tunnel = mock_tunnel
+
+    mocker.patch.object(SlurmTunnelScheduler, "_initialize_tunnel")
+    mocker.patch("nemo_run.run.torchx_backend.schedulers.slurm._save_job_dir")
+    poll_mock = mocker.patch.object(SlurmTunnelScheduler, "_poll_job_start_time")
+
+    slurm_scheduler.schedule(dryrun_info)
+
+    poll_mock.assert_not_called()
+    assert job_id not in slurm_scheduler._start_time_threads
+    assert job_id not in slurm_scheduler._start_time_stop_events