Junior Data Analyst, Applied AI

Ascendco Health; Kansas City (MO); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Ascendco Health is hiring a Junior Data Analyst, Applied AI to help turn healthcare data into practical AI-powered workflows. You will use Python and SQL to retrieve, explore, clean, and validate data, gaining hands-on experience with APIs and automation. This is an early-career role with opportunities to grow toward AI engineering.

You will collaborate across engineering and data teams, learn from projects, and adapt to changing priorities while building a strong data and software foundation.

Qualifications

• 0–2 years of relevant experience or projects.
• Ability to write basic Python for data work (read files, filter, transform, summarize).
• Ability to write basic SQL (SELECT, WHERE, JOIN, GROUP BY).
• Understanding of relational data concepts (tables, keys, joins).
• Experience exploring datasets and identifying data-quality issues.
• Ability to follow docs to call REST APIs.
• Strong attention to detail and willingness to verify work.
• Curiosity, ownership, and ongoing learning mindset.

Responsibilities

• Run Python scripts and SQL queries; communicate results clearly.
• Explore, clean, transform, and reformat datasets for analysis and AI workflows.
• Identify missing values, duplicates, outliers, and inconsistent fields.
• Retrieve data from REST APIs following existing docs and examples.
• Make small changes to scripts and write simple new scripts with guidance.
• Validate outputs against source data and flag misalignments.
• Maintain documentation about data sources, transformations, assumptions, and findings.
• Collaborate with engineering and data experts to solve practical problems.
• Revise work as requirements or data change.
• Continuously build skills in data analysis, automation, APIs, and applied AI.

Skills

Python basics

SQL basics

Pandas data manipulation

Tools

Git

Jupyter notebook

Job description

Careers

Junior Data Analyst, Applied AI

* The recruiting process for every candidate and position includes at least one video zoom or in person meeting with an Ascender. We do not use Signal Messenger.

Summary

At Ascendco, we are building technology that empowers surgical teams with better data, smarter workflows, and tools that ultimately help improve patient care. As AI creates new ways to work with complex healthcare data, we are looking for a Junior Data Analyst, Applied AI to help us turn those capabilities into practical solutions.

This is an early-career role for someone with strong data fundamentals, curiosity, and an interest in growing toward AI engineering. You will use Python and SQL to retrieve, explore, clean, and validate data while gaining hands‑on experience with APIs, automation, and AI‑powered workflows.

Previous AI engineering experience is not required. You will develop those skills through practical projects, collaboration, and continuous learning. Our work evolves as new information and priorities emerge, so you should be comfortable asking questions, incorporating feedback, and revising your approach as you learn.

Responsibilities:

• Run Python scripts and SQL queries assigned by the team and communicate results clearly.
• Explore, clean, transform, and reformat datasets for analysis and AI‑powered workflows.
• Identify missing values, duplicates, outliers, inconsistencies, and fields that do not match their stated definitions.
• Retrieve data from REST APIs by following existing documentation and examples.
• Make small changes to existing scripts and write simple new scripts with review and guidance.
• Validate analytical and AI‑generated outputs against source data and flag results that do not align.
• Maintain clear documentation about data sources, transformations, assumptions, and findings.
• Collaborate with engineering, data, and subject matter experts to understand data and solve practical problems.
• Revise your work when requirements, priorities, or available information change.
• Continuously build your skills in data analysis, automation, APIs, and applied AI.

Requirements:

Must‑Haves

• 0–2 years of relevant experience, including professional work, internships, coursework, or substantial self‑directed projects.
• Ability to write basic Python for working with data, including reading files and using pandas to filter, join, transform, and summarize datasets.
• Ability to write basic SQL, including SELECT, WHERE, JOIN, and GROUP BY.
• Understanding of relational data concepts including tables, primary keys, relationships, and joins.
• Experience exploring a dataset and identifying patterns or data‑quality issues.
• Ability to follow documentation and examples to make a REST API call.
• Strong attention to detail and a willingness to verify your work rather than make unsupported assumptions.
• Willingness to ask questions early when requirements or data are unclear.
• Good judgment when handling sensitive or restricted data.
• Clear written and verbal communication.
• Curiosity, ownership, and a desire to continuously improve your skills and your work.

A specific degree is not required. Relevant experience may come from professional work, internships, academic projects, or substantial self‑directed learning.

Nice‑to‑Haves

• Familiarity with Git or notebook environments.
• Exposure to serverless or event‑driven architectures.
• Experience using AI agents or coding agents.
• Exposure to Model Context Protocol (MCP).
• Coursework or projects involving analytical databases or database operations.
• Experience working with healthcare or other complex datasets.

Work Environment & Culture

Ascendco operates in a flexible hybrid model, with approximately 50% in‑office collaboration in Kansas City and 50% remote work. We value ownership, collaboration, continuous improvement, and execution. You will work alongside people who enjoy figuring things out, experimenting with new technologies, and turning ideas into practical solutions. You will receive guidance as you learn while also being expected to take increasing ownership as your skills grow. This role offers an opportunity to build a strong foundation in data and software while gaining hands‑on experience with emerging AI technologies. The work you do will help us turn complex healthcare data into better information and better tools for the surgical teams we serve.