Born on 5 January 1906 in Vienna. Began studying at the University for Agriculture for 2 semesters, but then studied mineralogy and geology at the University of Vienna. Obtained his PhD in 1932. He began his career as demonstrator at the Mineralogical-Petrographical Institute at the University of Vienna. Already in 1932 he became a voluntary collaborator of the Mineralogical - Petrographical Department of the Natural History Museum. In 1934 he became a candidate for assistant, and in 1936 he was made provisional scientific assistant. Then followed his military service. After the war, in 1948, he was promoted to curator of the first order and was given the duty of heading the Mineralogical-Petrographical Department. In 1953, he became Director of the Department.

He was greatly hindered in undertaking his scientific work by the ravages of the times and his poor state of health. His main concerns were the occurrence of gold and other minerals in the area of the Hohe Tauern. He developed a lively activity within the Austrian Mineralogical Society of which he was the President for many years. Schiener died in Vienna on 23 August 1962.