[1][2] After graduating the schools of Altdorf and the gymnasium in Schwyz, Lusser began his studies of engineering at the Federal Polytechnic Institute of Zurich in 1867 and completed them in 1871.

[3] From 1874 to 1881, Lusser directed the construction from the southern end of the Gotthard Tunnel as first engineer and foreman of the Louis Favre company.

At the breakthrough of tunnel in 1880, he would hand a photograph of Favre, who had died a year prior, through the borehole to honour his legacy, with following words written on the back:[3][5][6] Qui est plus digne, de passer par le premier, que celui qui nous était patron, ami et père.

After the breakthrough of the Gotthard Tunnel, Lusser would move on to oversee the expansion of Chiasso railway station from 1881 to 1882.

[5] Notably, he was able to complete it one year earlier than planned in 1894 and below budget,[3][5] despite it being the second-longest tunnel of Switzerland at that time.