diff --git a/src/components/TopBar.tsx b/src/components/TopBar.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..07847bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/TopBar.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,158 @@
+import { useState, useEffect } from 'react'
+import { Home, Search } from 'lucide-react'
+
+interface TopBarProps {
+  onSearchClick?: () => void
+}
+
+export function TopBar({ onSearchClick }: TopBarProps) {
+  const [currentTime, setCurrentTime] = useState(() => formatTime(new Date()))
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const interval = setInterval(() => {
+      setCurrentTime(formatTime(new Date()))
+    }, 60_000)
+    return () => clearInterval(interval)
+  }, [])
+
+  return (
+    <header
+      className="fixed top-0 left-0 right-0 flex items-center justify-between font-ui"
+      style={{
+        height: 'var(--topbar-height)',
+        background: 'var(--surface)',
+        borderBottom: '1px solid var(--border)',
+        padding: '0 20px',
+        zIndex: 100,
+      }}
+    >
+      {/* Brand */}
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-2 shrink-0">
+        <Home
+          size={18}
+          style={{ color: 'var(--accent)' }}
+          aria-hidden="true"
+        />
+        <span
+          className="font-ui"
+          style={{
+            fontSize: '13px',
+            fontWeight: 600,
+            color: 'var(--text-primary)',
+          }}
+        >
+          Headhunt Medical Center
+        </span>
+        <span
+          style={{
+            fontSize: '11px',
+            fontWeight: 400,
+            color: 'var(--text-tertiary)',
+            marginLeft: '2px',
+          }}
+        >
+          Remote
+        </span>
+      </div>
+
+      {/* Search bar (center) — triggers command palette, no inline search */}
+      <button
+        type="button"
+        onClick={onSearchClick}
+        className="hidden md:flex items-center gap-2 cursor-pointer font-ui"
+        style={{
+          maxWidth: '560px',
+          minWidth: '400px',
+          height: '42px',
+          border: '1.5px solid var(--border)',
+          borderRadius: 'var(--radius-card)',
+          padding: '0 14px',
+          background: 'var(--surface)',
+          transition: 'border-color 150ms, box-shadow 150ms',
+        }}
+        onMouseEnter={(e) => {
+          e.currentTarget.style.borderColor = 'var(--accent-border)'
+        }}
+        onMouseLeave={(e) => {
+          if (document.activeElement !== e.currentTarget) {
+            e.currentTarget.style.borderColor = 'var(--border)'
+          }
+        }}
+        onFocus={(e) => {
+          e.currentTarget.style.borderColor = 'var(--accent)'
+          e.currentTarget.style.boxShadow = '0 0 0 3px rgba(13,110,110,0.12)'
+        }}
+        onBlur={(e) => {
+          e.currentTarget.style.borderColor = 'var(--border)'
+          e.currentTarget.style.boxShadow = 'none'
+        }}
+        aria-label="Search records, experience, skills. Press Control plus K"
+      >
+        <Search
+          size={16}
+          style={{ color: 'var(--text-tertiary)', flexShrink: 0 }}
+          aria-hidden="true"
+        />
+        <span
+          className="flex-1 text-left"
+          style={{
+            fontSize: '13px',
+            color: 'var(--text-tertiary)',
+            fontFamily: 'var(--font-ui)',
+          }}
+        >
+          Search records, experience, skills...
+        </span>
+        <kbd
+          className="font-geist"
+          style={{
+            fontSize: '10px',
+            color: 'var(--text-tertiary)',
+            background: 'var(--bg-dashboard)',
+            border: '1px solid var(--border)',
+            padding: '2px 6px',
+            borderRadius: '4px',
+            lineHeight: 1,
+          }}
+        >
+          Ctrl+K
+        </kbd>
+      </button>
+
+      {/* Session info (right) */}
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-3 shrink-0">
+        <span
+          className="hidden sm:inline"
+          style={{
+            fontSize: '12px',
+            color: 'var(--text-secondary)',
+            fontFamily: 'var(--font-ui)',
+          }}
+        >
+          Dr. A.CHARLWOOD
+        </span>
+        <span
+          className="font-geist"
+          style={{
+            fontSize: '11px',
+            color: 'var(--text-tertiary)',
+            background: 'var(--accent-light)',
+            padding: '3px 10px',
+            borderRadius: '4px',
+            border: '1px solid var(--accent-border)',
+          }}
+        >
+          Active Session · {currentTime}
+        </span>
+      </div>
+    </header>
+  )
+}
+
+function formatTime(date: Date): string {
+  return date.toLocaleTimeString('en-GB', {
+    hour: '2-digit',
+    minute: '2-digit',
+    hour12: false,
+  })
+}