Senior Payment Switch Test Engineer / QA Lead - KSA

Job Title: Senior Payment Switch Test Engineer / QA Lead

Experience 5+Yrs

Location Riyadh (KSA)

Role Objective

We are seeking a highly skilled Payment Switch Specialist with deep expertise in BASE24 and IST switches. The successful candidate will spearhead switch migration projects, ensuring seamless integration between core banking systems, national switches (SAMA/MADA), and international schemes (Visa/Mastercard).

Key Responsibilities

End-to-End Migration: Lead and execute comprehensive testing strategies for complex switch migration projects, from initial environment setup to go-live.

Functional Validation: Perform rigorous testing of terminal functionalities across ATM, POS, and Teller channels to ensure high availability and transaction integrity.

Protocol Expertise: Map and validate ISO8583 message formats, ensuring compliance with varied requirements for Mastercard, VISA, and MADA.

Simulator Management: Configure and utilize industry-standard simulators (e.g., VTS, MAS/MDFS, FinSim) to emulate host and interchange behaviors.

Interface Integration: Manage integration testing with critical external interfaces, including Core Banking Systems (CBS), Reconciliation modules, and Middleware.

Stakeholder Management: Act as the primary technical point of contact for external vendors and regulators, including SAMA, Mastercard, Visa, and hardware vendors like NCR/Diebold.

UAT Orchestration: Facilitate User Acceptance Testing (UAT) by translating technical switch logic into clear business scenarios for stakeholders.

Technical Qualifications & Experience

Switch Mastery: Minimum 8+ years of hands-on experience with BASE24 or IST payment switches.

Messaging Standards: Expert-level understanding of ISO8583 (87/93/2003 versions) and the specific bit-mapping required by global schemes.

Migration Track Record: Proven experience in at least one full-lifecycle switch migration or major upgrade.

Methodology: Proficient in Agile/Scrum frameworks, with experience using tools like JIRA or Azure DevOps for defect tracking.

Regional Knowledge: Familiarity with SAMA (Saudi Central Bank) payment regulations and MADA (formerly SPAN) network protocols.

Soft Skills

Communication: Exceptional communication skills for managing relationships with stakeholders.

Analytical Thinking: Ability to troubleshoot complex transaction failures and perform root cause analysis on host-to-host connectivity issues.

Adaptability: Comfortable working in high-pressure, mission-critical environments typical of the Saudi financial sector.