diff --git a/sky/cli.py b/sky/cli.py
index ce3ad16ecb9..462e8a5b9de 100644
--- a/sky/cli.py
+++ b/sky/cli.py
@@ -3560,6 +3560,15 @@ def jobs():
               default=False,
               required=False,
               help='Skip confirmation prompt.')
+# TODO(cooperc): remove this flag once --fast can robustly detect cluster
+# yaml config changes
+@click.option('--fast',
+              default=False,
+              is_flag=True,
+              help='[Experimental] Launch the job faster by skipping '
+              'controller initialization steps. If you update SkyPilot or '
+              'your local cloud credentials, they will not be reflected until '
+              'you run `sky jobs launch` at least once without this flag.')
 @timeline.event
 @usage_lib.entrypoint
 def jobs_launch(
@@ -3586,6 +3595,7 @@ def jobs_launch(
     detach_run: bool,
     retry_until_up: bool,
     yes: bool,
+    fast: bool,
 ):
     """Launch a managed job from a YAML or a command.
 
@@ -3669,7 +3679,8 @@ def jobs_launch(
     managed_jobs.launch(dag,
                         name,
                         detach_run=detach_run,
-                        retry_until_up=retry_until_up)
+                        retry_until_up=retry_until_up,
+                        fast=fast)
 
 
 @jobs.command('queue', cls=_DocumentedCodeCommand)
diff --git a/sky/jobs/core.py b/sky/jobs/core.py
index 6c1ac42d192..5668e19332a 100644
--- a/sky/jobs/core.py
+++ b/sky/jobs/core.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ def launch(
     stream_logs: bool = True,
     detach_run: bool = False,
     retry_until_up: bool = False,
+    fast: bool = False,
 ) -> None:
     # NOTE(dev): Keep the docstring consistent between the Python API and CLI.
     """Launch a managed job.
@@ -47,6 +48,9 @@ def launch(
           managed job.
         name: Name of the managed job.
         detach_run: Whether to detach the run.
+        fast: Whether to use sky.launch(fast=True) for the jobs controller. If
+          True, the SkyPilot wheel and the cloud credentials may not be updated
+          on the jobs controller.
 
     Raises:
         ValueError: cluster does not exist. Or, the entrypoint is not a valid
@@ -138,6 +142,7 @@ def launch(
                    idle_minutes_to_autostop=skylet_constants.
                    CONTROLLER_IDLE_MINUTES_TO_AUTOSTOP,
                    retry_until_up=True,
+                   fast=fast,
                    _disable_controller_check=True)