diff --git a/template/render.go b/template/render.go
index 9533c0e69..184f1c9cc 100644
--- a/template/render.go
+++ b/template/render.go
@@ -80,9 +80,7 @@ func RenderTemplate(templateFile string, variableFiles []string, addr string, fl
 		if err != nil {
 			return
 		}
-		for k, v := range variables {
-			mergedVariables[k] = v
-		}
+		deepMerge(mergedVariables, variables)
 	}
 
 	src, err := ioutil.ReadFile(t.jobTemplateFile)
@@ -145,6 +143,9 @@ func (t *tmpl) parseYAMLVars(variableFile string) (variables map[string]interfac
 	if err = yaml.Unmarshal(yamlFile, &variables); err != nil {
 		return
 	}
+	
+	// Convert any map[interface{}]interface{} to map[string]interface{} for proper deep merge
+	variables = convertYAMLMap(variables)
 	return variables, nil
 }
 
@@ -169,3 +170,64 @@ func (t *tmpl) renderTemplate(src string, variables map[string]interface{}) (tpl
 
 	return tpl, err
 }
+
+// convertYAMLMap recursively converts map[interface{}]interface{} to map[string]interface{}
+// This is needed because YAML unmarshaling can create mixed key types
+func convertYAMLMap(input map[string]interface{}) map[string]interface{} {
+	result := make(map[string]interface{})
+	for key, value := range input {
+		result[key] = convertYAMLValue(value)
+	}
+	return result
+}
+
+// convertYAMLValue converts interface{} values, handling nested maps and slices
+func convertYAMLValue(value interface{}) interface{} {
+	switch v := value.(type) {
+	case map[interface{}]interface{}:
+		// Convert map[interface{}]interface{} to map[string]interface{}
+		result := make(map[string]interface{})
+		for k, val := range v {
+			if keyStr, ok := k.(string); ok {
+				result[keyStr] = convertYAMLValue(val)
+			}
+		}
+		return result
+	case map[string]interface{}:
+		// Already the right type, but recursively convert values
+		result := make(map[string]interface{})
+		for k, val := range v {
+			result[k] = convertYAMLValue(val)
+		}
+		return result
+	case []interface{}:
+		// Convert slice elements
+		result := make([]interface{}, len(v))
+		for i, val := range v {
+			result[i] = convertYAMLValue(val)
+		}
+		return result
+	default:
+		// Return as-is for primitive types
+		return value
+	}
+}
+
+// deepMerge recursively merges src map into dst map, handling nested structures
+func deepMerge(dst, src map[string]interface{}) {
+	for key, srcVal := range src {
+		if dstVal, exists := dst[key]; exists {
+			// Both values exist, check if they are both maps
+			if dstMap, dstIsMap := dstVal.(map[string]interface{}); dstIsMap {
+				if srcMap, srcIsMap := srcVal.(map[string]interface{}); srcIsMap {
+					// Both are maps, merge recursively
+					deepMerge(dstMap, srcMap)
+					continue
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		// Either key doesn't exist in dst, or one of the values is not a map
+		// In either case, overwrite with src value
+		dst[key] = srcVal
+	}
+}
diff --git a/template/render_test.go b/template/render_test.go
index 3c4b0e1ce..b5a2ccf22 100644
--- a/template/render_test.go
+++ b/template/render_test.go
@@ -119,3 +119,205 @@ func TestTemplater_RenderTemplate(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("expected %s but got %v", testEnvValue, *job.TaskGroups[0].Name)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestTemplater_DeepMergeVariables(t *testing.T) {
+	// Test deep merge functionality with nested variables
+	fVars := make(map[string]interface{})
+	
+	job, err := RenderJob("test-fixtures/nested_templated.nomad", []string{"test-fixtures/test-nested-1.yaml", "test-fixtures/test-nested-2.yaml"}, "", &fVars)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	
+	if *job.Name != testJobName {
+		t.Fatalf("expected %s but got %v", testJobName, *job.Name)
+	}
+	
+	// Check that the job config was properly rendered (this validates the deep merge worked)
+	config := job.TaskGroups[0].Tasks[0].Config
+	args, ok := config["args"].([]interface{})
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("expected args to be a slice")
+	}
+	
+	// Check that we have the expected number of args
+	if len(args) != 7 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 7 args but got %d", len(args))
+	}
+	
+	// Check that database config from both files is present
+	found := make(map[string]bool)
+	expected := []string{"DB Host: localhost", "DB Port: 5432", "DB User: admin", "DB Pass: secret", "Cache Enabled: true", "Cache TTL: 300", "Log Level: debug"}
+	
+	for _, arg := range args {
+		argStr := arg.(string)
+		for _, exp := range expected {
+			if argStr == exp {
+				found[exp] = true
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	
+	for _, exp := range expected {
+		if !found[exp] {
+			t.Errorf("expected argument '%s' not found in job config. Got args: %v", exp, args)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDeepMerge(t *testing.T) {
+	// Test the deepMerge function directly
+	dst := map[string]interface{}{
+		"config": map[string]interface{}{
+			"database": map[string]interface{}{
+				"host": "localhost",
+				"port": 5432,
+			},
+			"cache": map[string]interface{}{
+				"enabled": true,
+				"ttl":     300,
+			},
+		},
+		"job_name": "levantExample",
+	}
+	
+	src := map[string]interface{}{
+		"config": map[string]interface{}{
+			"database": map[string]interface{}{
+				"username": "admin",
+				"password": "secret",
+			},
+			"logging": map[string]interface{}{
+				"level": "debug",
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	
+	deepMerge(dst, src)
+	
+	// Check that the merge worked correctly
+	config, ok := dst["config"].(map[string]interface{})
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("config should be a map")
+	}
+	
+	database, ok := config["database"].(map[string]interface{})
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("database should be a map")
+	}
+	
+	// Check all database fields are present
+	if database["host"] != "localhost" {
+		t.Errorf("expected host localhost, got %v", database["host"])
+	}
+	if database["port"] != 5432 {
+		t.Errorf("expected port 5432, got %v", database["port"])
+	}
+	if database["username"] != "admin" {
+		t.Errorf("expected username admin, got %v", database["username"])
+	}
+	if database["password"] != "secret" {
+		t.Errorf("expected password secret, got %v", database["password"])
+	}
+	
+	// Check cache section is preserved
+	cache, ok := config["cache"].(map[string]interface{})
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("cache should be a map")
+	}
+	if cache["enabled"] != true {
+		t.Errorf("expected cache enabled true, got %v", cache["enabled"])
+	}
+	if cache["ttl"] != 300 {
+		t.Errorf("expected cache ttl 300, got %v", cache["ttl"])
+	}
+	
+	// Check logging section is added
+	logging, ok := config["logging"].(map[string]interface{})
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("logging should be a map")
+	}
+	if logging["level"] != "debug" {
+		t.Errorf("expected logging level debug, got %v", logging["level"])
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTemplater_DeepMergeJSON(t *testing.T) {
+	// Test deep merge functionality with JSON files
+	fVars := make(map[string]interface{})
+	
+	job, err := RenderJob("test-fixtures/nested_templated.nomad", []string{"test-fixtures/test-nested-1.json", "test-fixtures/test-nested-2.json"}, "", &fVars)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	
+	if *job.Name != testJobName {
+		t.Fatalf("expected %s but got %v", testJobName, *job.Name)
+	}
+	
+	// Verify the nested variables were properly merged for JSON
+	config := job.TaskGroups[0].Tasks[0].Config
+	args, ok := config["args"].([]interface{})
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("expected args to be a slice")
+	}
+	
+	// Check that database config from both files is present
+	found := make(map[string]bool)
+	expected := []string{"DB Host: localhost", "DB Port: 5432", "DB User: admin", "DB Pass: secret", "Cache Enabled: true", "Cache TTL: 300", "Log Level: debug"}
+	
+	for _, arg := range args {
+		argStr := arg.(string)
+		for _, exp := range expected {
+			if argStr == exp {
+				found[exp] = true
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	
+	for _, exp := range expected {
+		if !found[exp] {
+			t.Errorf("expected argument '%s' not found in job config. Got args: %v", exp, args)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTemplater_DeepMergeTerraform(t *testing.T) {
+	// Test deep merge functionality with Terraform files
+	fVars := make(map[string]interface{})
+	
+	job, err := RenderJob("test-fixtures/nested_templated.nomad", []string{"test-fixtures/test-nested-1.tf", "test-fixtures/test-nested-2.tf"}, "", &fVars)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	
+	if *job.Name != testJobName {
+		t.Fatalf("expected %s but got %v", testJobName, *job.Name)
+	}
+	
+	// Verify the nested variables were properly merged for Terraform
+	config := job.TaskGroups[0].Tasks[0].Config
+	args, ok := config["args"].([]interface{})
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("expected args to be a slice")
+	}
+	
+	// Check that database config from both files is present
+	found := make(map[string]bool)
+	expected := []string{"DB Host: localhost", "DB Port: 5432", "DB User: admin", "DB Pass: secret", "Cache Enabled: true", "Cache TTL: 300", "Log Level: debug"}
+	
+	for _, arg := range args {
+		argStr := arg.(string)
+		for _, exp := range expected {
+			if argStr == exp {
+				found[exp] = true
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	
+	for _, exp := range expected {
+		if !found[exp] {
+			t.Errorf("expected argument '%s' not found in job config. Got args: %v", exp, args)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/template/test-fixtures/nested_templated.nomad b/template/test-fixtures/nested_templated.nomad
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b52b11c8e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template/test-fixtures/nested_templated.nomad
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+// Copyright (c) HashiCorp, Inc.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0
+
+job "[[.job_name]]" {
+  datacenters = ["dc1"]
+  
+  task "test" {
+    driver = "exec"
+    
+    config {
+      command = "echo"
+      args = [
+        "DB Host: [[.config.database.host]]",
+        "DB Port: [[.config.database.port]]",
+        "DB User: [[.config.database.username]]",
+        "DB Pass: [[.config.database.password]]",
+        "Cache Enabled: [[.config.cache.enabled]]",
+        "Cache TTL: [[.config.cache.ttl]]",
+        "Log Level: [[.config.logging.level]]"
+      ]
+    }
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/template/test-fixtures/test-nested-1.json b/template/test-fixtures/test-nested-1.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d6dbeacaa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template/test-fixtures/test-nested-1.json
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{
+  "job_name": "levantExample",
+  "config": {
+    "database": {
+      "host": "localhost",
+      "port": 5432
+    },
+    "cache": {
+      "enabled": true,
+      "ttl": 300
+    }
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/template/test-fixtures/test-nested-1.tf b/template/test-fixtures/test-nested-1.tf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a573fa633
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template/test-fixtures/test-nested-1.tf
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+variable "job_name" {
+  default = "levantExample"
+}
+
+variable "config" {
+  default = {
+    database = {
+      host = "localhost"
+      port = 5432
+    }
+    cache = {
+      enabled = true
+      ttl = 300
+    }
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/template/test-fixtures/test-nested-1.yaml b/template/test-fixtures/test-nested-1.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b13c2ecaa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template/test-fixtures/test-nested-1.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# Copyright (c) HashiCorp, Inc.
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0
+
+job_name: levantExample
+config:
+  database:
+    host: localhost
+    port: 5432
+  cache:
+    enabled: true
+    ttl: 300
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/template/test-fixtures/test-nested-2.json b/template/test-fixtures/test-nested-2.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..691cb10eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template/test-fixtures/test-nested-2.json
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+{
+  "config": {
+    "database": {
+      "username": "admin",
+      "password": "secret"
+    },
+    "logging": {
+      "level": "debug"
+    }
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/template/test-fixtures/test-nested-2.tf b/template/test-fixtures/test-nested-2.tf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..756a00d6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template/test-fixtures/test-nested-2.tf
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+variable "config" {
+  default = {
+    database = {
+      username = "admin"
+      password = "secret"
+    }
+    logging = {
+      level = "debug"
+    }
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/template/test-fixtures/test-nested-2.yaml b/template/test-fixtures/test-nested-2.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c7f6f9dfc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template/test-fixtures/test-nested-2.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# Copyright (c) HashiCorp, Inc.
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0
+
+config:
+  database:
+    username: admin
+    password: secret
+  logging:
+    level: debug
\ No newline at end of file