Albert Strickler was the only child of Albert Strickler, Sr. (1853–1936) and Maria Auguste Flentjen (1863–1945) of Wädenswil, Canton of Zürich, Switzerland. He was married twice, the second time as a widower. Neither marriage produced children.
Strickler graduated from ETH Zurich as a mechical engineer in 1911. He earned a Ph.D. in 1917 while serving as the principal assistant to Professor Franz Prasil (1857–1929). Throughout his career, he was involved in the development of hydropower with interests ranging from hydraulic machinery to the regulation of river flows for inland navigation. Prior to World War II, he was the vice president of the Association of Exporting Electricity and a member of the board of directors on the Gotthard Electricity Mains AG, Altdorf, Uri. He subsequently worked as an engineering consultant until illness forced his withdrawal from practice in 1950.