Goldwater was president and publisher of Archie Comics, co-founded by his father, John L. Goldwater as MLJ Comics. He joined the company after college, working various jobs before becoming editor-in-chief.

He oversaw the introduction of Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Josie and the Pussycats, and licensed properties like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Sonic the Hedgehog. During this period Archie expanded internationally and moved into animated and live-action series and films.