diff --git a/api/database.py b/api/database.py
index 7235f63..d6932a7 100644
--- a/api/database.py
+++ b/api/database.py
@@ -9,14 +9,16 @@ This module provides:
 
 import sqlite3
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Optional
 import os
+from tools.deployment_config import get_db_path
 
 
 def get_db_connection(db_path: str = "data/jobs.db") -> sqlite3.Connection:
     """
     Get SQLite database connection with proper configuration.
 
+    Automatically resolves to dev database if DEPLOYMENT_MODE=DEV.
+
     Args:
         db_path: Path to SQLite database file
 
@@ -28,17 +30,35 @@ def get_db_connection(db_path: str = "data/jobs.db") -> sqlite3.Connection:
         - Row factory for dict-like access
         - Check same thread disabled for FastAPI async compatibility
     """
+    # Resolve path based on deployment mode
+    resolved_path = get_db_path(db_path)
+
     # Ensure data directory exists
-    db_path_obj = Path(db_path)
+    db_path_obj = Path(resolved_path)
     db_path_obj.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
 
-    conn = sqlite3.connect(db_path, check_same_thread=False)
+    conn = sqlite3.connect(resolved_path, check_same_thread=False)
     conn.execute("PRAGMA foreign_keys = ON")
     conn.row_factory = sqlite3.Row
 
     return conn
 
 
+def resolve_db_path(db_path: str) -> str:
+    """
+    Resolve database path based on deployment mode
+
+    Convenience function for testing.
+
+    Args:
+        db_path: Base database path
+
+    Returns:
+        Resolved path (dev or prod)
+    """
+    return get_db_path(db_path)
+
+
 def initialize_database(db_path: str = "data/jobs.db") -> None:
     """
     Create all database tables with enhanced schema.
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_dev_database.py b/tests/unit/test_dev_database.py
index 8447d7a..56a9de3 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_dev_database.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_dev_database.py
@@ -82,3 +82,20 @@ def test_initialize_dev_respects_preserve_flag(tmp_path):
     conn.close()
 
     os.environ.pop("PRESERVE_DEV_DATA")
+
+
+def test_get_db_connection_resolves_dev_path():
+    """Test that get_db_connection uses dev path in DEV mode"""
+    import os
+    os.environ["DEPLOYMENT_MODE"] = "DEV"
+
+    # This should automatically resolve to dev database
+    # We're just testing the path logic, not actually creating DB
+    from api.database import resolve_db_path
+
+    prod_path = "data/trading.db"
+    dev_path = resolve_db_path(prod_path)
+
+    assert dev_path == "data/trading_dev.db"
+
+    os.environ["DEPLOYMENT_MODE"] = "PROD"