diff --git a/.github/workflows/e2e.yaml b/.github/workflows/e2e.yaml
index 271cd0c..86aa19f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/e2e.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/e2e.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ on:
   workflow_dispatch:
 
 env:
-  PLUGIN_VOLUME_PATH: /mnt/headlamp-plugins
   HEADLAMP_NAMESPACE: kube-system
   HEADLAMP_DEPLOY: headlamp
 
@@ -33,6 +32,17 @@ jobs:
       - name: Build plugin
         run: npm run build
 
+      - name: Ensure PVC exists
+        run: kubectl apply -f deployment/headlamp-plugins-pvc.yaml
+
+      - name: Upgrade Headlamp with shared volume mount
+        run: |
+          helm upgrade headlamp headlamp/headlamp \
+            --namespace "$HEADLAMP_NAMESPACE" \
+            --reuse-values \
+            -f deployment/headlamp-e2e-values.yaml \
+            --wait --timeout 120s
+
       - name: Deploy plugin via shared volume
         run: scripts/deploy-plugin-via-volume.sh
 
diff --git a/scripts/deploy-plugin-via-volume.sh b/scripts/deploy-plugin-via-volume.sh
index c89c719..881cb62 100755
--- a/scripts/deploy-plugin-via-volume.sh
+++ b/scripts/deploy-plugin-via-volume.sh
@@ -2,19 +2,18 @@
 # deploy-plugin-via-volume.sh
 #
 # Copies the built plugin into the shared PVC so Headlamp picks it up.
-# The PVC must already be mounted on the CI runner at PLUGIN_VOLUME_PATH.
+# Uses a temporary Kubernetes pod to write to the PVC — the CI runner
+# does NOT need the PVC mounted locally.
 #
 # Usage:
-#   scripts/deploy-plugin-via-volume.sh [plugin-volume-path]
+#   scripts/deploy-plugin-via-volume.sh
 #
 # Environment:
-#   PLUGIN_VOLUME_PATH  — mount point of the shared PVC (default: /mnt/headlamp-plugins)
 #   HEADLAMP_NAMESPACE  — namespace where Headlamp runs (default: kube-system)
 #   HEADLAMP_DEPLOY     — Headlamp deployment name (default: headlamp)
 set -euo pipefail
 
 REPO_ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/.." && pwd)"
-PLUGIN_VOLUME_PATH="${1:-${PLUGIN_VOLUME_PATH:-/mnt/headlamp-plugins}}"
 HEADLAMP_NAMESPACE="${HEADLAMP_NAMESPACE:-kube-system}"
 HEADLAMP_DEPLOY="${HEADLAMP_DEPLOY:-headlamp}"
 
@@ -28,18 +27,51 @@ if [ ! -d "$DIST_DIR" ]; then
   exit 1
 fi
 
-echo "Deploying plugin to shared volume..."
-echo "  Source:      $DIST_DIR"
-echo "  Destination: $PLUGIN_VOLUME_PATH/$PLUGIN_DIR_NAME"
+echo "Deploying plugin to shared volume via temporary pod..."
+echo "  Source:    $DIST_DIR"
+echo "  PVC:       headlamp-plugins"
+echo "  Plugin:    $PLUGIN_DIR_NAME"
 
-# Clean any previous version and copy fresh build
-rm -rf "${PLUGIN_VOLUME_PATH:?}/${PLUGIN_DIR_NAME}"
-mkdir -p "$PLUGIN_VOLUME_PATH/$PLUGIN_DIR_NAME"
-cp -a "$DIST_DIR"/. "$PLUGIN_VOLUME_PATH/$PLUGIN_DIR_NAME/"
-cp "$REPO_ROOT/package.json" "$PLUGIN_VOLUME_PATH/$PLUGIN_DIR_NAME/"
+# Create tarball of plugin dist + package.json
+TAR_FILE=$(mktemp /tmp/plugin-XXXXXX.tar.gz)
+tar -czf "$TAR_FILE" -C "$DIST_DIR" . -C "$REPO_ROOT" package.json
+echo "  Tarball:   $TAR_FILE ($(du -h "$TAR_FILE" | cut -f1))"
 
-echo "Plugin files deployed:"
-ls -la "$PLUGIN_VOLUME_PATH/$PLUGIN_DIR_NAME/"
+# Clean up any previous deploy pod
+kubectl delete pod plugin-deploy -n "$HEADLAMP_NAMESPACE" --ignore-not-found --wait=false 2>/dev/null || true
+sleep 2
+
+# Run a temporary pod that mounts the PVC and receives the tarball via stdin
+echo "Starting deploy pod..."
+kubectl run plugin-deploy \
+  --rm -i \
+  --restart=Never \
+  --image=busybox:1.36 \
+  --namespace="$HEADLAMP_NAMESPACE" \
+  --overrides="{
+    \"spec\": {
+      \"containers\": [{
+        \"name\": \"plugin-deploy\",
+        \"image\": \"busybox:1.36\",
+        \"stdin\": true,
+        \"command\": [\"sh\", \"-c\",
+          \"rm -rf /plugins/${PLUGIN_DIR_NAME} && mkdir -p /plugins/${PLUGIN_DIR_NAME} && tar -xzf - -C /plugins/${PLUGIN_DIR_NAME} && echo Files deployed: && ls -la /plugins/${PLUGIN_DIR_NAME}/\"
+        ],
+        \"volumeMounts\": [{
+          \"name\": \"plugins\",
+          \"mountPath\": \"/plugins\"
+        }]
+      }],
+      \"volumes\": [{
+        \"name\": \"plugins\",
+        \"persistentVolumeClaim\": {
+          \"claimName\": \"headlamp-plugins\"
+        }
+      }]
+    }
+  }" < "$TAR_FILE"
+
+rm -f "$TAR_FILE"
 
 # Restart Headlamp to pick up the new plugin
 echo "Restarting Headlamp deployment to load plugin..."