Cards Technical Implementation Lead

About NeoStats Analytics:

NeoStats is a new-age, Data & Analytics firm offering contemporary solutions and infinite possibilities. Our mission is to create lasting competitive advantage for our clients by transforming them into world-class, data-driven organizations. Established in 2022 to provide End to End Data & Analytics Services, we are headquartered out of UAE, with bases in India & UK. Comprising of industry veterans, we enable structural transformations in Analytics powered by our expertise, true partnership, and e2e implementation approach.

About the Job:

A BNPL platform launching mass consumer credit cards, wallet-linked prepaid cards, and commercial card products. This role embeds a dedicated specialist within the client's KSA technology and product teams to drive the full technical implementation and productionisation of card programs. The KSA market operates under a principal membership model with the Processor — requiring BIN request and setup, ICA assignment, scheme certification, and physical/digital card launch. For the right candidate, this is a rare opportunity to lead a greenfield card launch for a high-profile fintech, directly shaping how card products reach millions of consumers.

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 — measured by on- time milestone delivery ≥ 90%

• Drive principal membership enablement, coordinating ICA assignment, membership documentation, and regulatory submissions to SAMA — ensuring membership is operationally active within the first 8 weeks

• Oversee card productionisation and digital issuance from card design and personalisation through production, fulfilment, and digital provisioning — ensuring integration with 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 — ensuring 100% of P1/P2 defects are resolved prior to go-live

• Manage authorisation, authentication, and dispute management configuration — ensuring post-launch operational readiness including production incident management, initial stabilisation, and comprehensive handover documentation for BAU operations teams.

• Coordinate across all parties —Processor, personalization bureaus, and the client's product, technology, and compliance functions — facilitating workshops, solution design sessions, and weekly/monthly governance cadence KPIs (indicative)

• Card programs technically launch-ready (BIN setup + scheme certification within first 3 months)

• Project milestones delivered on-time (Against agreed project plan)

• Critical defects resolved pre-launch / Prior to go-live

• Digital wallet (xPay) provisioning live / Apple Pay, Google Pay minimum

• Weekly status reporting & monthly SteerCo cadence

• Stakeholder satisfaction (client feedback) - Quarterly feedback from client Head of Personal Banking

Requirements:

• Mandatory: Hands-on end-to-end technical implementation experience across consumer and commercial card programs (credit + wallet/prepaid)

• Mandatory: Direct experience with principal membership setup and ICA enablement with a major card scheme

• Mandatory: Processor integration experience (e.g. tier-1 issuer processor)

• Mandatory: Knowledge of SAMA regulatory framework for card issuance and consumer finance licensing

• Mandatory: Fluent English; immediately available or within 30-day notice

• Domain Expertise:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field

• 10+ years in payments technology, card issuing/processing, and technical implementation program management

• Proven track record delivering card product launches (credit, wallet/prepaid, commercial) across multiple markets, ideally in the GCC/MENA region

• Deep understanding of card management systems (e.g., PowerCARD, Way4, VisionPLUS, Cortex, Prime), issuer processing, and card lifecycle (issuance → authorisation → clearing → settlement → disputes) Technical Knowledge:

• ISO 8583 / ISO 20022 messaging standards, BIN management, personalisation, tokenisation (MDES/VTS), 3DS, and digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay)

• PCI-DSS compliance requirements and security standards for card issuance

• API-based integrations, simulator/certification environments, and cloud-native architectures Regulatory & Regional:

•  Strong knowledge of 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 Industry & Sector:

•  Experience working with fintech or BNPL companies is highly desirable

•  Exposure to greenfield card program launches (vs. migration/enhancement) preferred Tools & Platforms:

•  Project management tools: JIRA, Confluence, MS Project, or equivalent

•  Testing and certification tools: Payment MIP, scheme simulators, API testing suites (Postman, SoapUI)

MANDATORY SKILLS

•  End-to-end card technical implementation and productionisation (credit, wallet, commercial)

•  BIN setup, ICA assignment, and Payment scheme certification

•  Processor integration experience

•  Digital wallet/tokenisation (MDES, xPay)

•  Fluent English; Client working language; Arabic is a plus Preferred but not mandatory:

•  PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent project management certification

•  Payment Certified Associate or Professional (Dispute Resolution or Fraud Management)

•  Arabic language proficiency

•  Relevant: 10+ years in payments technology, card issuing/processing, and technical implementation

What we offer:

• Competitive Salary and Benefits
• Opportunity to be part of a fast-paced and growing startup. Grow your career with the company.
• Ownership – You will own your initiative and be given specific responsibilities.
• Continuous coaching & mentoring – You will have the opportunity to interact and work closely with other senior data scientists and AI experts across the globe.
• Dynamic and respectful work environment – we truly value you.