Her keel was laid down by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on 7 April 1958. She was launched on 31 October 1960 sponsored by Mrs. George L. Walling, mother of Commander John F. Walling, who was commanding officer of the first Snook (SS-279) when she was lost in action in World War II. Snook was commissioned on 24 October 1961 with Commander Howard Bucknell III in command.