Child's Play in a Day's Work Steve Kagan for The New York Times Ake Paramadilok, 29, works for Radio Flyer, the maker of wagons, scooters, tricycles and other toys. It is based in Chicago. Q. Radio Flyer hired you as a product development engineer at age 22. A. I have dual degrees from Northwestern University, in manufacturing and design engineering, and biomedical engineering. But I think I partly got the job because of what I told the interviewer about completing my first design project when I was 6. I had a basketball hoop on the back of my door and put together an elaborate system using curtains, sheets and pillows to make shooting hoops much more interesting. So what do you do all day? I define the quality specifications for our products, develop the tests to make sure we meet those standards, and run the tests. In one test, we strap a wagon onto a treadmill and load weights or sandbags into the wagon to replicate the experience of pulling a wagon on a sidewalk. In another, we assess whether our tricycles are tough enough to ensure that kids are safe. Why did you move from product development to quality assurance? I have a knack for modifying items so that they work at maximum efficiency, and I'm detail-oriented. So when I saw an opening two years ago, I applied and was accepted. In 2012, I was promoted to supervisor. I have one person working for me who's 24. Did your family have any influence on your career choice? My parents, who are from Thailand, met at college in the United States. My mother became a graphic designer, and my father got a master's and Ph.D. in civil engineering, so I got a blend of creativity and technical knowledge from them. As far back as I can remember, I'd help my father fix things around the house. I've always loved working with my hands and solving problems. Those skills have probably translated to what I do today. Does your job ever get boring? My friends with desk jobs get tired of hearing me talk about my work, especially when I say things like, "The worst part of my day was when I couldn't find a scooter to ride to a meeting." We often ride Radio Flyer scooters to get around.