Mars comp for senior software engineering, what I saw in 2026

contractor_kai · 5 replies

Sharing because I couldn't find anything current when I was evaluating an offer from them.

Role: Senior Software Engineer, supply chain tech, based in Hackettstown NJ (some remote flexibility, not fully remote).

My offer: Base: $148k Bonus: 15% target (paid annually, historically near target from what I was told) 401k match: dollar-for-dollar up to 6% No RSUs. They're private, so no equity comp at all.

Total cash at target is around $170k. That's below what a senior SWE would clear at a FAANG in the same city for sure, but comparing to FAANG is sort of the wrong frame for Mars. The comparison set is more like other large CPG companies or Fortune 500 non-tech. By that benchmark it's competitive.

Benefits were notably good: healthcare fully covered for employee, subsidized for family. PTO policy felt real, not "unlimited" in the usual illusory way.

Didn't end up taking it (the location was the issue, not the offer), but wanted to put the number out there.

5 replies

numbers_only

Useful data point. The no-equity thing is real and a lot of people don't account for it when comparing. If you're used to 20-30% of your comp being in RSUs, that effective gap is bigger than the base difference makes it look.

content_cole

The 6% dollar-for-dollar match is actually pretty generous compared to most companies doing 3-4% partial match. Over 10 years that's real money. Not saying it offsets the equity gap but it's not nothing.

contractor_kai

Exactly right. The total comp math surprised me when I actually modeled it. For someone planning to stay 5+ years and values stability over upside optionality, the package is solid.

remote_swe_42

Did they negotiate on base or was it pretty firm? And did you try for remote, or was the NJ requirement non-negotiable from the start?

contractor_kai

They moved base up about $8k from first offer when I pushed. The remote thing was honestly unclear. They said hybrid and I think there was room, but I didn't push hard on it since I knew location was a dealbreaker for me anyway.