Zhang was born into a poor peasant family in Cao County, Shandong, on 25 March 1946.^[1][2] In 1964, he was admitted to Harbin Institute of Military Engineering, majoring in nuclear physics.^[1][2] After graduation in 1970, he was assigned to Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.^[1][2] In 1997, he became deputy commander of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, rising to commander in 2001. He became deputy director of the People's Liberation Army General Armaments Department in 2004, serving in the post until his retirement in July 2009.