diff --git a/source/isaaclab/changelog.d/jichuanh-kitless-newton-tests.rst b/source/isaaclab/changelog.d/jichuanh-kitless-newton-tests.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..a90832ac0fb4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/isaaclab/changelog.d/jichuanh-kitless-newton-tests.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+Fixed
+^^^^^
+
+* Removed the unconditional ``from omni.physx.scripts import utils`` in
+  :func:`isaaclab.sim.schemas.modify_articulation_root_properties` by inlining
+  the single-selection ``Fixed`` joint creation via :mod:`pxr.UsdPhysics`
+  directly. The previous code path broke any kitless newton run that needed
+  to anchor a fixed-base articulation to the world.
diff --git a/source/isaaclab/isaaclab/sim/schemas/schemas.py b/source/isaaclab/isaaclab/sim/schemas/schemas.py
index 23f53b105cb3..05e30747be89 100644
--- a/source/isaaclab/isaaclab/sim/schemas/schemas.py
+++ b/source/isaaclab/isaaclab/sim/schemas/schemas.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 import warp as wp
 
-from pxr import Sdf, Usd, UsdGeom, UsdPhysics
+from pxr import Gf, Sdf, Usd, UsdGeom, UsdPhysics
 
 from isaaclab.sim.utils.stage import get_current_stage
 from isaaclab.utils.string import to_camel_case
@@ -134,6 +134,63 @@ def _get_field_declaring_class(cfg_class: type, field_name: str) -> type | None:
     return None
 
 
+def _create_fixed_joint_to_world(stage: Usd.Stage, articulation_prim: Usd.Prim) -> UsdPhysics.FixedJoint:
+    """Create a ``UsdPhysics.FixedJoint`` pinning ``articulation_prim`` to the world.
+
+    Kitless equivalent of ``omni.physx.scripts.utils.createJoint(stage, "Fixed",
+    from_prim=None, to_prim=articulation_prim)``: the omni helper is just a
+    thin wrapper around :mod:`pxr.UsdPhysics` ops, so inlining the
+    single-selection Fixed case lets this code path work both with and without
+    Kit loaded (newton backend in kitless mode hits this too).
+
+    Args:
+        stage: USD stage to author on.
+        articulation_prim: The articulation root prim to anchor to the world.
+
+    Returns:
+        The created :class:`pxr.UsdPhysics.FixedJoint`.
+    """
+    to_path = articulation_prim.GetPath().pathString
+    # Mirror omni.physx createJoint's "find first writable ancestor" walk:
+    # instanced / prototype prims can't host the joint, so climb to a writable
+    # parent before authoring.
+    base_prim = articulation_prim
+    pseudo_root = stage.GetPseudoRoot()
+    while base_prim != pseudo_root:
+        if base_prim.IsInPrototype() or base_prim.IsInstanceProxy() or base_prim.IsInstanceable():
+            base_prim = base_prim.GetParent()
+        else:
+            break
+    joint_base_path = str(base_prim.GetPrimPath())
+    if joint_base_path == "/":
+        joint_base_path = ""
+
+    # Pick a unique sibling name "FixedJoint", "FixedJoint_01", etc.
+    joint_name = "FixedJoint"
+    idx = 1
+    while stage.GetPrimAtPath(f"{joint_base_path}/{joint_name}").IsValid():
+        joint_name = f"FixedJoint_{idx:02d}"
+        idx += 1
+    joint_path = f"{joint_base_path}/{joint_name}"
+
+    component = UsdPhysics.FixedJoint.Define(stage, joint_path)
+
+    # Single-selection placement: joint sits at to_prim's world pose; body0
+    # rel is left empty (world), body1 rel points to to_prim. Matches the
+    # omni single-selection branch.
+    xf_cache = UsdGeom.XformCache()
+    to_pose = xf_cache.GetLocalToWorldTransform(articulation_prim).RemoveScaleShear()
+    pos = Gf.Vec3f(to_pose.ExtractTranslation())
+    rot = Gf.Quatf(to_pose.ExtractRotationQuat())
+
+    component.CreateBody1Rel().SetTargets([Sdf.Path(to_path)])
+    component.CreateLocalPos0Attr().Set(pos)
+    component.CreateLocalRot0Attr().Set(rot)
+    component.CreateLocalPos1Attr().Set(Gf.Vec3f(0.0))
+    component.CreateLocalRot1Attr().Set(Gf.Quatf(1.0))
+    return component
+
+
 def _apply_namespaced_schemas(prim, cfg, cfg_dict: dict) -> None:
     """Route every cfg field to its declaring class's namespace and apply schemas.
 
@@ -339,10 +396,11 @@ def modify_articulation_root_properties(
                     " the articulation tree. However, this is not implemented yet."
                 )
 
-            # create a fixed joint between the root link and the world frame
-            from omni.physx.scripts import utils as physx_utils
-
-            physx_utils.createJoint(stage=stage, joint_type="Fixed", from_prim=None, to_prim=articulation_prim)
+            # Create a fixed joint between the root link and the world frame.
+            # Use pxr.UsdPhysics directly so this code path also works in
+            # kitless mode (newton backend without Kit). The equivalent
+            # ``omni.physx.scripts.utils.createJoint`` is a thin pxr.Usd wrapper.
+            _create_fixed_joint_to_world(stage, articulation_prim)
 
             # Having a fixed joint on a rigid body is not treated as "fixed base articulation".
             # instead, it is treated as a part of the maximal coordinate tree.
diff --git a/source/isaaclab_contrib/changelog.d/jichuanh-kitless-newton-tests.skip b/source/isaaclab_contrib/changelog.d/jichuanh-kitless-newton-tests.skip
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e69de29bb2d1
diff --git a/source/isaaclab_newton/changelog.d/jichuanh-kitless-newton-tests.skip b/source/isaaclab_newton/changelog.d/jichuanh-kitless-newton-tests.skip
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e69de29bb2d1
diff --git a/source/isaaclab_newton/test/assets/test_articulation.py b/source/isaaclab_newton/test/assets/test_articulation.py
index 4b27988f65ed..284218a5dc86 100644
--- a/source/isaaclab_newton/test/assets/test_articulation.py
+++ b/source/isaaclab_newton/test/assets/test_articulation.py
@@ -6,16 +6,16 @@
 # ignore private usage of variables warning
 # pyright: reportPrivateUsage=none
 
-"""Launch Isaac Sim Simulator first."""
+"""Kitless newton tests: run the newton physics backend without booting Kit.
 
-from isaaclab.app import AppLauncher
-
-HEADLESS = True
-
-# launch omniverse app
-simulation_app = AppLauncher(headless=True).app
-
-"""Rest everything follows."""
+``SimulationContext`` and :func:`~isaaclab.sim.build_simulation_context` gate
+all Kit-specific paths on :func:`~isaaclab.utils.version.has_kit`, so omitting
+the module-level ``AppLauncher(headless=True).app`` boot is sufficient — newton
+tests run in pure-python + warp without Isaac Sim's Kit runtime. This avoids
+the Kit/Isaac-Sim concurrency lifecycle bug (SIGHUP / shutdown-hang at >=3
+concurrent Kit instances on test_articulation under multi-GPU CI) and shaves
+~30s off per-file boot.
+"""
 
 import sys
 from copy import deepcopy
@@ -354,9 +354,12 @@ def generate_articulation(
     # Fix reversed joints for known-broken USD assets (body0/body1 swapped)
     usd_path = getattr(articulation_cfg.spawn, "usd_path", "")
     if any(name in usd_path for name in _REVERSED_JOINT_USD_FILES):
-        import omni.usd
+        # Kitless: use IsaacLab's stage helper instead of ``omni.usd.get_context()``.
+        # ``get_current_stage`` falls back to the in-memory pxr.Usd stage when Kit
+        # isn't loaded.
+        from isaaclab.sim.utils.stage import get_current_stage
 
-        fix_reversed_joints(omni.usd.get_context().get_stage())
+        fix_reversed_joints(get_current_stage())
 
     return articulation, translations
 
diff --git a/source/isaaclab_newton/test/assets/test_rigid_object_collection.py b/source/isaaclab_newton/test/assets/test_rigid_object_collection.py
index 18928bedb5d8..c200311a88f3 100644
--- a/source/isaaclab_newton/test/assets/test_rigid_object_collection.py
+++ b/source/isaaclab_newton/test/assets/test_rigid_object_collection.py
@@ -7,14 +7,8 @@
 # pyright: reportPrivateUsage=none
 
 
-"""Launch Isaac Sim Simulator first."""
-
-from isaaclab.app import AppLauncher
-
-# launch omniverse app
-simulation_app = AppLauncher(headless=True).app
-
-"""Rest everything follows."""
+"""Kitless newton-only test: no AppLauncher boot. See test_articulation.py
+for rationale."""
 
 import sys