Hu Zhen was admitted to the School of Computer Science at Nanhua University (formerly Hengyang Institute of Technology) in 1985. Since 2002, he has dedicated himself to the research and development of deep - sea manned submersibles.

For an extended period, Hu Zhen has been deeply engaged in the field of submersible design and development. In the 7000 - meter manned submersible project, he assumed the positions of deputy sponsor and deputy chief designer. Additionally, he served as the chief designer of the "Deep - sea Warrior" manned submersible. The "Deep - sea Warrior" manned operational submersible, led by him in its development, has successfully enabled Chinese people to freely navigate the seabed at a depth of over 4500 meters in the deep sea.

Throughout his career, Hu Zhen has been intensively involved in submersible design and development work. Besides his roles as deputy sponsor and deputy chief designer of the 7000 - meter manned submersible project, he also took on the responsibility of deputy sponsor for the 1000 - meter, 3000 - meter, and 5000 - meter sea - trial projects of the "Jiaolong" manned submersible. As the technical director of the "Jiaolong" manned submersible, he meticulously organized and carried out tasks such as the technical design and inspection tests of the manned submersible. During the sea trials, he led the sea - trial team to accomplish important tasks including technical support, diving tests, and fault handling with remarkable success. Throughout the entire trial process, he consistently served as the deck commander for the diving tests. With his outstanding adaptability, he properly addressed various complex situations, playing a pivotal role in the smooth completion of the sea trials. In June 2012, the "Jiaolong" embarked on a new sea - trial journey, striving towards the ultimate goal of diving to a depth of 7000 meters.

Hu Zhen has achieved remarkable results in the fields of scientific research and practice. He has successively received the Second Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award in 2003, the First Prize of the National Defense Science and Technology Award in 2001, the Second Prize of the National Defense Science and Technology Award in 2006, the title of one of the Top Ten Oceanic Figures in 2010, the Touching China Award in 2011, and the honorary title of National Model Worker in 2015.

On April 23, 2021, Hu Zhen was successfully selected into the list of valid candidates for the 2021 academician election of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.