He is best known for his collaborations with film director Michael Mann, as well as for directing episodes of: Friday Night Lights, Trauma, The Event and Prime Suspect.

In film, he worked as an assistant director for every film directed by Michael Mann, dating back to Manhunter (1986).

His other film credits as an assistant director include When Harry Met Sally... (1989), Drop Dead Fred (1991), Highway to Hell (1992), Rudy (1993), Monkey Trouble (1994) and producing and assistant directing the films A Low Down Dirty Shame (1994). Celtic Pride (1996) and Metro (1997).

In 2006, Waxman became an assistant director on the television series Friday Nights Lights. He made the head directorial debut of his career on that series in 2008 going on to direct eleven episodes including the series finale. In 2011, He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for his work on the series as a producer.

His other television directing credits include Trauma, Parenthood, Breakout Kings, The Event, Prime Suspect, Awake, Grimm, Once Upon a Time, and 12 Monkeys.