Certification Analyst EMV & Host (Payments Domain)

Job Title: Certification Analyst, EMV & Host (Payments Domain)

Location: Atlanta, GA

Job Summary

We are seeking skilled and detail-oriented professionals with proven experience in Card Payment Testing & Certification within the Retail, Restaurant, & Fuel Payments domain . The ideal candidate will play a key role in ensuring Client’ s payment solutions comply with industry standards and successfully pass certifications with acquirers, processors, and regulatory bodies.

The role requires strong technical acumen, certification lifecycle management, and collaboration with both internal stakeholders and external certification bodies. Senior candidates are expected to lead certification projects and mentor junior team members .

Key Responsibilities

• Manage multi-faceted certification projects end-to-end: scope definition, test planning, execution, defect resolution, and successful closure.
• Collaborate closely with Development, QA, Compliance, and Partner teams to ensure prompt readiness for certification.
• Lead and Execute EMV L3 Card Brand Certifications with processors / acquirers.
• Lead and Execute Fleet Card Certifications with processors / acquirers and Card Brands.
• Lead and Execute Host Message Specification Certifications with various processors / acquirers and Card Brands.
• Review & prepare Certification results - test cases, logs, evidence, and summary reports.
• Troubleshoot issues during test execution and coordinate defect triage with engineering and vendor teams.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of payment industry standards (e.g., EMVCo, PCI, ISO8583), certification requirements, and ecosystem changes.
• For senior candidates (5+ years):
  • Lead cross-functional certification teams.
  • Provide mentorship and training to junior analysts.
  • Influence process improvements and certification strategy.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Computer Science, related technical field, or 3 - 5 years work experience in Card Payment Certifications.
• Hands-on experience in payments domain with strong exposure to:
  • EMV Certification tools like FIME BTT, ICCSimTMat, or similar.
  • EMV L3 / End-to-End Certification Process
  • Host Message Specification Certifications with Processors and Acquirers
• Strong understanding of payment transaction flow, ISO8583 messages , and EMV technical analysis and problem solving.
• Good knowledge of payment terminal platforms (POS)and card schemes .
• Excellent analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication; ability to work with external stakeholders.
• Self-driven with strong project ownership , attention to detail , and cross-functional coordination skills .
• Prior experience in global certification environments is a plus.

Other Qualifications

• CSCIP/P Certification, or ETA CPP Certification is a plus.
• Exposure to PCI standards (PCI-DSS, PCI-PTS) is desirable.