Lantieri went to school in Los Angeles, California with actor-director Ron Howard with the ambition to work in films as a  director, which he had been interested in from a young age. However, he went to work in the special effects department of Universal Studios, with his first credited work being for Heartbeeps (1981), serving as a remote operator. His first collaboration with Steven Spielberg was with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), where he served as a special effects supervisor.
Lantieri studied in Los Angeles, California alongside actor-director Ron Howard with aspirations to work in films as a director from an early age. Instead, he started working at Universal Studios' special effects department, with his first credited job being for Heartbeeps (1981), where he worked as a remote operator. His first collaboration with Steven Spielberg was on Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), where he served as a special effects supervisor.