Cards Technical Implementation Lead

Engagement details:Job Title: Cards Technical Implementation LeadClient: Global Cards & Payments FirmEnd-client: Leading BankEmployment type: Initial 12-month contract with strong potential for extensionLocation: Onsite in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Experience level: 10+ yearsAvailability: Immediately available or within 30 days noticeRole Overview:Our client, a Global Cards & Payments firm, is engaged with a leading bank in Riyadh and is seeking to onboard a Cards Technical Implementation Lead who will be responsible for driving the end-to-end technical implementation, certification, and production launch of these card programmes.The role is intended to support the client’s KSA technology and product teams by providing dedicated card-domain implementation expertise. It will involve coordinating and executing the critical technical workstreams required to establish card programmes under the Kingdom’s principal membership model, including BIN application and configuration, ICA assignment, processor integration, scheme certification, physical-card issuance, and digital-card enablement.The role also requires strong hands-on experience in card issuing implementation, payment-scheme certification, processor integrations, and the end-to-end launch lifecycle for both physical and digital card products. Regional market exposure particularly within Saudi Arabia or the wider GCC will be highly valuable, ideally complemented by experience in more mature international card markets. 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 scheme certification measured by ontime 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.Knowledge and Experience10+ years’ experience in payments technology, card issuing/processing, and technical implementation programme delivery.Proven experience launching card products end-to-end, including credit, wallet-linked prepaid, and commercial cards.Strong preference for experience delivering card programmes in Saudi Arabia, the GCC, or wider MENA; exposure to global card markets is beneficial.Experience working within fintech, BNPL, issuing-bank, processor, or payment-scheme environments.Demonstrable experience delivering greenfield card launches, from programme setup through to production go-live.Deep understanding of issuer processing, card-management systems, and the card lifecycle: issuance, authorisation, clearing, settlement, chargebacks, and disputes.Hands-on experience with BIN setup, ICA assignment, processor integration, scheme certification, and launch-readiness activities.Working knowledge of ISO 8583 and ISO 20022 messaging, tokenisation, 3DS, card personalisation, and digital-wallet enablement.Experience implementing digital wallets and tokenisation solutions, including MDES and xPay solutions.Strong knowledge of SAMA requirements relevant to card issuing and consumer-finance products.