DREAM JOBS: HOW TO MAKE A LIVING DOING WHAT YOU LOVE (09/19/12)

WILLIE AMARADIO
LIGHTSPEED DESIGN ENGINEER

STARTING POINT: “In college my passion was racing, so I actively pursued a career in the motorcycle industry. My first big job was in the Yamaha public relations department. When I started LightSpeed, I had the opportunity to keep working with Team Yamaha on the development of lightweight carbon fiber parts.”

THE JOB : “My official title is president, but I’m really a design engineer, because developing the parts is what I love to do. The lifeblood of the job for me is working with the factory teams, like Yamaha, Pro Circuit and Geico Honda. It’s motivation and inspiration and what keeps us on the cutting edge. New bikes are introduced all the time, and there is always a new challenge working on the next generation and developing things that have never been seen before. That’s what keeps the job fresh and exciting.”