About Jeff Wackwitz

Throughout my career, I've helped companies bring customer-driven products to market by reducing technical risk, improving engineering execution, and building stronger development organizations.

Most recently, I served as Global Director of Engineering at Enerpac, following 14 years of engineering and leadership roles at Milwaukee Tool.

I've led global engineering teams, developed innovative products, implemented engineering governance systems, and guided products from concept through launch across industrial and professional markets. I've helped improve the speed, quality, and predictability of product development while aligning engineering investments with business objectives.

Along the way, I've been awarded more than 50 patents and have had the opportunity to work alongside talented engineers, product managers, and business leaders around the world.

Today, through NextPhase Product Development, I help companies de-risk product development, strengthen engineering teams, and improve the systems and processes that drive successful product launches.

Beyond Engineering

While engineering has been a significant part of my professional life, my most important role is being a husband and father.

My wife Katie and I are raising three active boys in Wisconsin, and much of my time outside of work revolves around family, youth sports, and outdoor activities. Being a parent has reinforced many of the leadership principles I value most—patience, accountability, teamwork, continuous learning, and investing in the development of others.

My Approach

I believe successful product development requires more than great ideas. It requires clear strategy, effective processes, sound engineering judgment, and teams that are empowered to execute.

While technology and tools continue to evolve, sustainable success still comes down to people working together toward a common goal. My focus is not simply to solve today's problems, but to help organizations build the capabilities, systems, and confidence needed to succeed long after an engagement ends.

I enjoy working with organizations that want to improve engineering execution, strengthen product development capabilities, and build teams that consistently deliver results. Whether the challenge involves process, technology, leadership, or organizational alignment, my goal is always the same: helping teams bring better products to market with greater confidence and less risk.