Cards Technical Implementation Lead📣 إعلان

About NeoStats

NeoStats is a Data & Analytics firm established in 2022, offering contemporary solutions and aiming to transform clients into world-class, data-driven organizations. Headquartered in the UAE with bases in India and the UK, NeoStats provides end-to-end Data & Analytics Services, leveraging industry expertise to enable structural transformations in Analytics.

The Opportunity

NeoStats is seeking a Cards Technical Implementation Lead for a contract role based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This position involves embedding a dedicated specialist within a client's KSA technology and product teams to drive the full technical implementation and productionisation of card programs. The role focuses on a BNPL platform launching mass consumer credit cards, wallet-linked prepaid cards, and commercial card products, offering an opportunity to lead a greenfield card launch in a market operating under a principal membership model with the Processor.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the full technical delivery lifecycle across consumer credit, wallet-linked, and commercial card programs for the KSA market, developing and maintaining comprehensive project plans covering BIN request/setup, ICA assignment, CMS integration, processor connectivity, and Payment scheme certification.
• Drive principal membership enablement, coordinating ICA assignment, membership documentation, and regulatory submissions to SAMA.
• Oversee card productionisation and digital issuance from card design and personalisation through production, fulfilment, and digital provisioning, ensuring integration with the NI processing platform personalization bureau per scheme requirements.
• Execute digital wallet and tokenisation launch (Apple Pay, Google Pay, xPay), including MDES setup, tokenisation services deployment to production, 3DS authentication configuration, and end-to-end digital provisioning flow validation.
• Lead scheme certification and quality assurance, including MIP testing, parametrisation workbook completion, package configuration, SIT/UAT, performance testing, and security testing.
• Manage authorisation, authentication, and dispute management configuration, ensuring post-launch operational readiness, production incident management, initial stabilisation, and comprehensive handover documentation for BAU operations teams.
• Coordinate across all parties, including the Processor, personalization bureaus, and the client's product, technology, and compliance functions, by facilitating workshops, solution design sessions, and weekly/monthly governance cadence.

Performance Metrics

• Card programs achieving technical launch-readiness (BIN setup + scheme certification) within the first 3 months.
• Project milestones delivered on-time against the agreed project plan (≥ 90%).
• Resolution of 100% of P1/P2 critical defects prior to go-live.
• Digital wallet (xPay) provisioning live, with Apple Pay and Google Pay as a minimum.
• Consistent weekly status reporting and monthly SteerCo cadence.
• Stakeholder satisfaction, as measured by quarterly client feedback from the Head of Personal Banking.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in payments technology, card issuing/processing, and technical implementation program management.
• Proven track record in delivering card product launches (credit, wallet/prepaid, commercial) across multiple markets, ideally within the GCC/MENA region.
• Experience with greenfield card program launches (versus migration/enhancement) is preferred.
• Experience working with fintech or BNPL companies is highly desirable.

Technical Skills and Knowledge

• Deep understanding of card management systems (*, PowerCARD, Way4, VisionPLUS, Cortex, Prime), issuer processing, and the full card lifecycle (issuance → authorisation → clearing → settlement → disputes).
• Knowledge of ISO 8583 / ISO 20022 messaging standards, BIN management, personalisation, tokenisation (MDES/VTS), 3DS, and digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay).
• Knowledge of PCI-DSS compliance requirements and security standards for card issuance.
• Experience with API-based integrations, simulator/certification environments, and cloud-native architectures.
• Strong knowledge of the SAMA regulatory framework for card issuance and consumer finance.
• Familiarity with payments products, services, CIS processes, and scheme rules.
• Understanding of Shariah-compliant financial products is a plus.
• Proficiency with project management tools such as JIRA, Confluence, MS Project, or equivalent.
• Familiarity with testing and certification tools including Payment MIP, scheme simulators, and API testing suites (Postman, SoapUI).